The Roger Federer express rolls on as he reaches Indian Wells quarters
Roger Federer is one win away from retaining the world No 1 ranking as he beat Jeremy Chardy to reach the quarter-finals in Indian Wells.
The defending champion secured a comfortable 7-5, 6-4 win over the Frenchman with one break of serve in each set enough to earn him the victory.
Federer, who needs to reach at least the semi-final to stay top of the world rankings ahead of Rafael Nadal, took his record for the year to 15-0 having also won the Australian Open and the Rotterdam Open.
“It has been great. It is a totally different year, and so many years after that,” the 20-time Grand Slam winner said.
“For so many years I have felt good actually in Australia already.
“I don’t know if it’s Australia per se or, taking the benefits from the hard work I put into the new season.”
He will face Hyeon Chung after the world No 26 beat Pablo Cuevas 6-1, 6-3.
It will be the second time he faces the rising South Korean star as they also clashed in the Australian Open semi-finals, but Chung had to retire due to blisters.
“He was actually struggling going into the match,” Federer said. “Seeing the blister after, that wasn’t very nice. I can just imagine how much pain there is to it.”
The 11th seeded Kevin Anderson also advanced as he came from a set down to beat Pablo Carreno Busta 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (8-6).
The South African will take on Borna Coric for a place in the semi-final after the Croat beat California native Taylor Fritz 6-2, 6-7 (6-8), 6-4.
Meanwhile, Juan Martin Del Potro didn’t have it all his own way as he also lost the first before finding his rhythm to beat fellow Argentine Leonardo Mayer 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-3.
Slow and steady wins the race…@delpotrojuan scores comeback win over Mayer 3-6 7-6(2) 6-3.#BNPPO18 pic.twitter.com/VA5HCrlGk3
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 15, 2018
“I was surprised by Mayer’s level today,” del Potro said. “I think I was very smart during the tiebreak. After that I turned the match around and took control of the points.”
He will face Philipp Kohlschreiber for a place in the last four after the German beat Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-4, 7-6 (7-1).
Sam Querrey also reached the quarter-finals as he beat Spain’s Feliciano Lopez 6-3, 6-4 and he will face Milos Raonic after the Canadian claimed a walkover win over Marcos Baghdatis.
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