Interesting semis in Cincinnati. The 2 super favorites, Federer and Djokovic, advance without many problems to the last four. Roger is going to play his good friend Wawrinka that won an incredible 3 set match with Raonic. Nole will play Delpo that breezed past Chardy in straight sets.
FEDERER – FISH 6-3 7-6 (4)
This was a great match especially in the second set. Roger and Mardy are two of the most spectacular players on the tour and the quick surface in Cincinnati helps a lot their attacking style. The first set was easy for Roger as the American couldn’t rely on his serve. Mardy could put in only 43% of his first service to win only 56% of his first serves in. Not enough to compete with the Swiss Maestro that eventually broke Fish twice. The second set was a lot of fun with Mardy stepping up with his service and his overal game. The American started to produce his trademark brilliant tennis to bring Roger to the tiebreak. Then… game over. Roger won a decisive minibreak to lead 4-2 in the tiebreak and then winning it at 4.
“It was a great atmosphere. I think it was sellout crowd,” said Federer. “That always makes it exciting. Playing an American here in America, it’s always special. It was pretty straightforward. Whoever was going to be more aggressive, serve more consistent, and then play maybe a tiny bit better from the baseline was probably going to win. I’m happy I was that guy tonight.”
Talking about his next match with his “tennis brother” Wawrinka “I have a tough matchup with him. It’s going to be a difficult one,” Federer said. “It seems like he’s playing really well. I’m just excited for him and for me [that] two Swiss guys can make it to the semis here in Cincinnati. It’s great.”
Head to Head is 12-1 for Roger. 8-0 on hard courts where Roger lost only 1 set. Federer is the clear favorite.
WAWRINKA – RAONIC 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4
Great stuff from Stanislas that managed to down the Canadian in 2h and 21 minutes. Wawrinka was really good in winning the important points to be broken twice in the first set and to manage to defend 4 out of six break points. He was particularly good at grabbing the only break point conceded by Milos in the third set. Eventually the Canadian won more points than the Swiss (97-96), but that was not enough.
“I would have done a lot different,” said Raonic. I started well but I was waiting for him to lose the match instead of me winning it“It hurts to lose like that, it went by fast at the end. I was too passive in the second set. I needed to create more chances for myself.”
DJOKOVIC – CILIC 6-3 6-2
It’s a stunning Djoker. Nole has been playing continuosly for weeks and he just keeps on winning. It took only 81 minutes for him to down Cilic with a very convincing performance.
“It was my best match so far here in this tournament,” said Djokovic. “Came in the right moment, really. I had the biggest challenge today with Cilic who has been playing well the last couple of months. Played a really good match.”
Talking about his recent loss to Del Potro at the Olympic Games “All these losses made me stronger,” said Djokovic. “They are difficult, especially when you’re playing for a country and when you’re in the Olympic Games and we’re fighting for the bronze medal. He won that match. It happens. It’s a sport. You lose, you win, but the most important thing is to try to move on and become even better and even stronger from those experiences and try to win. So tomorrow will be my opportunity to win against him.”
DEL POTRO – CHARDI 6-1 6-3
No match here as the (super) lucky loser wasn’t play at the same level as the Argentine. The match just slipped away in 76 with an obvious outcome. “I think I’m in a good level at the moment after the Olympics,” said del Potro. “I have confidence to play against all the players. But anyway I’m still feeling a little difference between the top players and me. But I know I’m getting closer very slowly, so that’s important. I’m working for that.”
Head to head Djokovic Del Potro is 4-2 for Nole, but Delpo won the last 2. Considering the surface, Nole’s stress level and Delpo condition, an upset… wouldn’t be an upset, but Nole will do everything to get through.
