‘Very close’: Federer makes shaky start to title defence
‘Of course I feel pressure from the organisers, the fans, my team, myself, because I know that sometimes coming through a tough first round can be the key to what’s to come afterwards’
Roger Federer admitted that he came “very close” to defeat as he was given a huge scare before seeing off Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 to open his Shanghai Masters defence yesterday.
The 37-year-old Swiss top seed faces Spain’s unseeded Roberto Bautista Agut on Thursday in the last 16 after what was an unconvincing start against the Russian. The 20-time Grand Slam champion initially wasted little time stamping his mark on the tournament, breaking the 22nd-ranked Medvedev in the first game.
But Medvedev, 22, fresh from winning the Japan Open, broke back and enjoyed even more luck on Federer’s serve in the second set to force a third.
In what was the first meeting between the pair, Federer broke in the ninth game of the decider to finally destroy Medvedev’s resolve in just under two nailbiting hours.
“In the third set I really started to figure it out,” said Federer, who was roared on by a band of fanatical fans decked out in red tops.
“How aggressive or how tactical I wanted to make the match, and by trying everything, I found a solution at the end.”
Federer, who was uncharacteristically flustered at times, said he was pleased with his performance, but admitted it had been a nervy one.
“Of course I feel pressure from the tournament organisers, the fans, my team, myself, because I know that sometimes coming through a tough first round can be the key to what’s to come afterwards,” said the 2017 champion.
“Today was very close to maybe not getting that next step.”
DEL POTRO VIRUS
With the exception of injured world number one Rafael Nadal, Federer’s chief rivals are all still in the mix.
Juan Martin del Potro and Alexander Zverev both defied illness to join Federer and Novak Djokovic in the next round.
Del Potro, the third seed, said that he is suffering from a virus and reviewing his health “hour by hour”, after labouring past France’s Richard Gasquet.
The Argentine lost Sunday’s final of the China Open in Beijing to unseeded Nikoloz Basilashvili and afterwards revealed that he had been unwell. Three days on and the 30-year-old continues to be under the weather, but just about did enough to see off Gasquet 7-5, 7-6 (9/7).
Between coughs at his postmatch press conference, Del Potro said: “It wasn’t easy to play for me today, I did what I can. I didn’t run too much.
“But I’m going like hour by hour and see how I’m feeling,” added Del Potro, who plays 13th seed Borna Coric of Croatia next in Shanghai.
“I got lucky that I won, but tomorrow will be a different day.
“If I have a good night today and I have a good recovery tomorrow morning, maybe I will feel a little bit better for tomorrow night and play better than today.”
The 21-year-old Zverev fought off a cold – he has had a sore throat and blocked nose for a few days – and the raw power of Basilashvili, winning 7-5, 6-4.
The fourth seed will play Australia’s world-ranked 33 Alex de Minaur. Zverev said that Basilashvili, who is up to a career-high ranking of 23, “knows how to play, definitely”.
“Probably the hardest-hitting player I have ever played against,” said Zverev.
PLISKOVA, SABALENKA POWER THROUGH IN TIANJIN
Top seed Karolina Pliskova bulldozed her way into the Tianjin Open quarter-finals by beating Slovenian Polona Hercog 6-1, 6-2 yesterday as the Czech power-hitter eyes a place at the WTA Finals later this month.
Pliskova, currently holding eighth spot in the Race to Singapore standings, must reach the semi-finals in Tianjin to secure one of the three available qualifying places for the seasonending tournament starting on Oct. 21.
The world number seven’s 50-minute win came after a powerful start and she claimed 80 percent of her first-serve points.
“I’m just happy that I didn’t spend that much time on the court today and I can rest a little bit and prepare for my next match,” Pliskova said.
Fellow Czech Barbora Krejcikova or Briton Katie Boulter awaits Pliskova in the last eight.
Fourth seed Aryna Sabalenka, who must lift the Tianjin trophy to maintain her slim chances of a WTA Finals debut, beat Poland’s Magda Linette 6-1 6-3 to reach the last eight.
“I was thinking I need to win this tournament – but at the moment I don’t care about Singapore,” the Belarusian said. “At the moment I’m focused on each match.”
Wuhan champion Sabalenka produced a string of powerful groundstrokes, giving her opponent no chance to find her rhythm.
The 20-year-old will face either Swiss Timea Bacsinszky or Japanese qualifier Misaki Doi in the quarter-finals.