Federer strikes down fellow Swiss to reach semis
CINCINNATI: World number two Roger Federer posted his second win of the day, amid a lightning fear interruption, to reach the semi-inals of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters on Friday.
The seven-time champion beat fellow Swiss Stan Wawrinka 6-7 (2/7), 7-6 (8/6), 6-2. The match was interrupted for 21 minutes with players being sent off court and crowds told to seek shelter as a storm cell passed near the site.
But after the pause, the pair came back out, with Federer finally securing the first break of the match on his seventh chance to take a 4-2 lead over his longtime rival.
Federer closed out victory two games later and will face David Goffin after the Belgian beat Juan Martin del Potro 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/4). Federer began his day by beating Leo Mayer 6-1, 7-6 (8/6).
DJOKOVIC THROUGH
Elsewhere, former world number one Novak Djokovic also won his second match of the day to set up a semi-final clash with Marin Cilic.
Djokovic, a five-time finalist here who has never broken through, is aiming to lift the trophy at the only one of the Masters 1000 series events that he has never won.
The Serb tenth seed followed up a 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 third-round defeat of holder Grigor Dimitrov earlier in the day of a rainy week by beating Milos Raonic 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.
It was the ninth win without a loss for Djokovic in the series with the Canadian.
Djokovic had to come from behind in the first and third sets, and helped seal the victory with a break for 5-3 in the third.
Cilic put out Spanish 13th seed Pablo Carreno Busta 7-6 (9/7), 6-4.
HALEP SAILS
Women’s top seed Simona Halep recovered from 1-4 down in the opening set to defeat Lesia Tsurenko 6-4, 6-1. It was the second fightback of the day for Halep, who came from a break down in each set to overhaul Australian 16th seed Ashleigh Barty 7-5, 6-4 several hours earlier in the third round.
Double Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova reached the final four over Belgian Elise Mertens 7-5, 5-7, 6-3. She will face Kiki Bertens after the Dutchwoman defeated Ukrainian fifth seed Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-3.