TENNIS Four-time Indian Wells champion Roger Federer cruised past Tomas Berdych 6-4 6-0 to advance to the semifinal at Indian Wells. Federer will face Milos Raonic who rallied from a set down to edge Rafa Nadal with 4-6 7-6 (12-10) 7-5 Diego Sampaolo
Federer and Berdych have met for the first time since the Dubai final in February 2014. Federer led 12-6 in his previous 18 head-to-head matches. Federer celebrated his 50th win at Indian Wells with his victory over Jack Sock in the fourth round. Federer won two tournaments this year in Brisbane and Dubai. Berdych has not won a title this year but he reached two finals and two semifinals in the first three months of the year.
Both players held their serve in the first five games. Berdych faced a break point in the fifth game with three double faults but he saved it with a forehand winner. Federer dropped the first point on his serve but he drew level to 3-3 after Berdych made three unforced errors
Federer brought up three break points and converted on his second chance to break in the seventh game for 4-3 and confirmed the break in the next game Berdych won the ninth game for 4-5 and put Federer under pressure for the first time when he went up 30-0 in the 10th game. Federer rallied with a service winner and brought up a set point which he converted when Berdych hit his backhand wide. Federer won 94 percent of his first serve points. Berdych won only 47 percent of his first serve points.
Federer went up a set and a break at the start of the second set when Berdych hit his volley wide. Federer played his aggressive match and got a double break in the third game when Berdych committed a double fault.
After confirming his second break Federer went up 15-0 with a spectacular point. Berdych clawed his way back to 30-40 but he dropped the game after committing a double fault
Federer was very solid on serve and broke serve for the fourth time in the match before serving out to love to clinch the second set with a bagel after 68 minutes. Federer has not lost a set in his four matches played this week and has not faced a single break point in the whole tournament. Federer hit 21 winners and won 88 percent of his serve points
“It’s not just another win but another win against against a top 10 player, against Berdych who has played against me tough in recent years.
Federer will face Milos Raonic who fought back from a set down to score his first win over Rafa Nadal with 4-6 7-6 (12-10) 7-5 win. Nadal won his previous five head-to-head matches against Raonic.
Three-time Indian Wells Nadal was the first to break Raonic in this tournament when he won the third game on Raonic’s serve to love to go up 2-1 in the the third game of the first set en route to winning 6-4 in 30 minutes. Before today’s match Raonic had faced just three break points in the whole tournament. Raonic fended off three match points in a thrilling tie-break of the second set to force the match to the third set.
Raonic got a crucial break of serve in the 11th game of the third set to take the edge with 6-5 before serving out for the match. He wrapped up the win in just under three hours.
Federer leads 8-1 over Raonic in his previous head-to-head matches. The Canadian scored his only win over Federer last year in the Paris Bercy semifinal.
