TENNIS – Roger Federer made a winning start to his campaign at the new ATP 250 in Istanbul with a 6-2 7-5 win over Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen in one hour to reach the quarter finals where he will face Daniel Gimeno Traver. Diego Sampaolo
The World Number 2 and top seed, who dropped just one set in his previous 14 matches against Nieminen in their previous head-to-head matches, broke serve twice for 1-0 and 4-1 en route to clinching the opening set with 6-2. In the second set Federer converted on his third break point chance in the 11th game for 6-5 to wrap up the match. Federer did not face any break point chances and won 93 percent of his first serve points. Yesterday Nieminen saved all the eight break points he faced in his 6-3 6-4 win over Turkish player Marcel Ilhan.
In the quarter finals Federer will face Daniel Gimeno Traver for the first time in his career. The Spanish player, who finished runner-up to Martin Klizan in Casablanca, hit five aces and brike serve four times to beat Mikhail Kukushkin 6-3 6-3.
It’s the first time in his career that Federer plays in Turkey.
“I have heard a lot of great things about Istanbul and the country. I have always wanted to come to visit this country- I saw the pictures before I came here and I was hoping it was going to be like this. The French Open clearly is a big goal of mine but to play well at the French Open I need confidence and I need to play well and I hope I can pick that up here in Istanbul and really win a lot of matches, preferably win the tournament”, said Federer
Santiago Giraldo edged past Russian 17-year-old rising star and 2014 World Junior Number 1 Andrey Rublev 6-4 1-6 6-3. Both Giraldo and Rublev dropped their serves three times. Rublev hit 7 aces compared to Giraldo’s 3 but Giraldo won more of his service points.
