Federer equals his year’s best start
INDIAN WELLS, UNITED STATES: World No. 1 Roger Federer equalled his best start to a season to stay on course for a sixth Indian Wells title, while Borna Coric brushed aside a shaky first set to reach the semi-finals.
Federer booked his semi-final spot and extended his season win streak to 16 straight matches with a 7-5, 6-1 victory over South Korea’s Chung Hyeon on Thursday. That equals the 16-0 start to the 2006 ATP calendar season. If he makes it to Sunday’s final and wins he will reach a career best 17 consecutive wins.
Switzerland’s Federer recalled parts of that streak but not all the tournaments he played in to get there.
“Twelve years ago, a long time ago. I don’t know. What was I doing back then?” he asked. “I don’t even remember what tournament I played first up and won.
“I guess I had a similar good start to the year. Back then I was on this massive streak of winning 30, 40-plus matches. It had already started the year before that, which this time it didn’t. I had to get it going again in Australia. “It’s a great start. Hopefully I can do one more and beat my best streak on Saturday.”
Federer put on an impressive display of serving and shot making, winning 70 percent of his first serve points against Chung. He had just one double fault and broke Chung’s serve four times in the one hour, 23 minute main stadium match.
“I’m happy I found a way. I started off really well, struggled afterwards, found my game back again and was able to protect it, saving big break points early on in the second set,” Federer said.
“I think that was the key to the match, those 10, 15 minutes where I broke at the end of the first and then saved break points early in the second.”
Federer clinched the victory on his second match point when he blasted his 12th and final ace.
VENUS REACHES SEMIS
Seven-time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams reached the WTA Indian Wells semi-finals for the first time since 2001 on Thursday by routing Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain 6-3, 6-2.
Despite the windy conditions, Williams improved to 5-2 on the season, which includes a third round win on Monday over sister Serena, who was making her return to the WTA after having a baby. “You kind of hope for this kind of scoreline, but you never know if you’re going to get it,” Williams said. At 37, she is the oldest player in the women’s draw, has played sparingly this year but is just beginning to step up her game.