Day Ten at Indian Wells, and the last of the mens quarter finals.
BNP Paribas Open - an ATP Masters 1000 category tournament, on Hard Plexipave, in Indian Wells, California, USA, 4-17 March 2019.
Defending champion:
Juan Martin del Potro (6) who defeated Roger Federer (1) 6-4 6-7(8) 7-6(2)
ATP quarter finals
- Hubert Hurkacz v Roger Federer (4)
The young Pole had been taking all before him in the past few weeks, but this would be his toughest test yet, coming up against a legend, and last years runner-up here.
Hurkacz served first, and lost just a single point in holding serve. Federer did likewise, and for four games, nothing appeared to threaten either player when at the line.
But that was enough of a hit up for Roger. So after a love game, featuring two off forehand winners, an ace and a service winner, the Swiss master set about breaking the Polish serve.
A fierce forehand down the line shocked Hurkacz, after a rally which seemed up to that point rather conciliatory. At 15-15, a double fault also didn’t exactly follow the plan. A second serve was then punished by a backhand return which followed Federer’s orders to the letter, inflicting enough damage to create a pair of break points. A Hurkacz forehand landed wide of the court, and Federer rejoiced in the break of serve, I believe, though it’s hard to know because outwardly his delight is ever disguised.
A second straight love game consolidated the Swiss service break, and at 4-2, Federer had surrendered only one point on serve.
Happy with just the single service break, Federer went to the line at 5-4, ready to deal with the formalities.
Hurkacz annoyed the master by taking more points off him in this game than he had till now for the entire set. Deuce is not a concept Roger likes to consider when serving, but Hurkacz took him there after his backhand volley squashed a set point. The second set point was enough, thanks to an errant Hurkacz forehand. Federer ahead 6-4
Federer was more impatient when seeking to crack the Hurkacz serve in set two. At 1-1, the Pole had a game point, following a forehand volley. A Federer overhead brought it back to deuce, and a duet of mistakes off the Polish racquet saw Federer up 2-1.
At 3-2, Federer faced his first break point of the day after his forehand failed to make the trip over the net. Angry at this development, Roger admonished the forehand for its lack of discipline, and next point was won with a strong and accurate showing by the forehand weapon.
4-2 the scoreboard reflected, and as in set one, it eventually changed to 5-4, but not before Hurkacz survived two deuces and a break point in game seven.
Serving for the match at 6-4 5-4, Federer had 30-0. Hurkacz fought hard to stop the Swiss procession and Roger assisted with a double fault and a forehand blunder. A backhand into the net and Hurkacz had break back point.
A service winner at the right time obliterated that, and then a wide Hurkacz forehand gave Federer match point.
A forehand into open court finished the match and Roger Federer won 6-4 6-4, in a match which was closer than the score indicates.
24 winners for Federer, 18 from his forehand.
- Rafa Nadal (2) defeated Karen Khachanov (12) 7-6(2) 7-6 (12)
Semi final match ups
Dominic Thiem (7) v Milos Raonic (13)
Roger Federer (4) v Rafa Nadal (2)
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