By Ros Satar, in Indian Wells
- Reigning champion Roger Federer heads up the field as the ATP quarter-finals are set
INDIAN WELLS, USA – Roger Federer continued his unbeaten run in 2018 as the quarter-final line-up was decided.
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Roger Federer [1] v Hyeon Chung [23]
Hyeon Chung continues his good season by sealing a spot in his first Masters quarter-final. The Next Gen ATP Finals champion eased into the berth with a straight sets win over Pablo Cuevas in a day of tricky conditions with high winds complicating factors on an already gritty slow, high bouncing court.
Chung was actually 5-0 up in the second set, having dominated the first and failed convert on seven match points, before being broken twice in succession before needing another three match points to seal the deal.
“It was a really tough match against Pablo. I have a lot of chance to finish, like, 6-1, 5-Love up. I have few match points but start windy and he playing good. So I’m just happy to win 6-3.”
He will face Roger Federer and the anticipation is high for the match-up that could have been. Chung made the Australian Open semi-finals taking out, along the way, Novak Djokovic in a style reminiscent of the Serb.
Federer said: “I think similarities to Novak’s game are particular, which is mostly in his movement, the way he’s able to slide to his forehand and to his backhand with the open stance, you know, which not many guys do or do it as extensively as Chung does.
“That’s the only similarity I see. Service motion, all the other motions are very, very different. It’s a Chung motion, if you like. Nobody has that kind of motion, I think, which is good.
“I see where the similarities come from with Novak and it’s not a bad one to have, to be honest, because Novak has maybe the best footwork on hard courts we have ever seen.
“So it’s just a question for Chung to see that he can maintain that level, you know, with the blister, with injuries, over the course of the next 10, 15 years to make sure he stays injury-free and doesn’t get injured three months of the year.
“But it’s highly explosive, it’s highly impressive what he does, and I think he’s going to be a great player. How good will still remain to be seen. I have a lot of respect for him as a player, and I think he’s going to be very successful”
Kevin Anderson [7] v Borna Coric
Coming into the match Kevin Anderson was the only player yet to lose serve (23 games held) but met a bit of a match in Pablo Carreno Busta who took the first set before the rangy South African rallied to book a spot in his third quarter-final at Indian Wells.
He made the final in the season opener in Pune and won in New York before losing in the final of Acapulco, so his confidence is justifiably high as he faces another of the ATP next Gen.
Borna Coric won a battle of the Next Gen as he dispatched one of the two remaining Americans in the draw, Taylor Fritz, sealing a place in his third Masters quarter-final. In his current form though, Anderson might feel confident of extending his dominant head to head over the young Croatian.
“I think we have been seeing these guys coming up the last few years, so it’s really great to see them taking strides forward. The future of tennis is with this up-and-coming generation. I thought the ATP NextGen was a great initiative and really showcased the young talent that tennis has to offer right now.
“I have played quite a few of them. They are tough competitors. As you said, Chung and Coric both are having very good weeks here, playing great tennis, and know they are a force to be reckoned with.
“I played Chung last week in Acapulco, close match, expecting a very close match tomorrow with Coric, played him last year in US Open. I expect him to play a little bit better. I’m excited. Hopefully we will see these guys continue to do well.
“I know what to expect. I know how he sort of plays. I have been watching him a little bit this week. Seems to be play very well, fighting very well, being aggressive from the baseline.
“I know what I need to do from my side. For me the biggest thing is always focusing on playing my kind of tennis as much I can. I feel when I do that I give myself the best chance of having a good result. Yeah, I’m excited to step out on court tomorrow.”
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Juan Martin Del Potro [6] v Philipp Kohlschreiber
The Tower of Tandil, Juan Martin Del Potro talked a lot during the All-Access media day how the fans love (he is a firm fan favourite) has help him on the long road to his comeback. He is now on an eight match winning streak, after scooping the Acapulco title but it is a tough match-up against the German who snapped his losing streak against the Argentinian picking up his last two wins.
He told reporters: “I didn’t expect to get in the top 10 again. And I won titles again, and I got the silver medal in Rio playing one of my best week of tennis on my life. All these things happen after my surgery. Of course I cannot believe what I’m doing in my “new career,” you know. But I’m enjoying a lot. I just enjoy the tour more than few years ago.
“With my old game, I won the US Open. I was No. 4 in the world. But with this way of play, I win — I won different things and important things too. And I think is the only way, if I want to keep playing tennis. And I deal with that every day and accept the conditions of my wrist or my body. And after that, I start every day to train or to play a match.”
Phillip Kohlschreiber was not at his best for the start of the season, and felt he had maybe lost a little confidence but thinks things are on the up.
He said: “I felt like the level of tennis I played in the past weeks got better and better, and, okay, then luckily here all come together. I like the conditions. I like the weather. I think I played some good tennis here already in the past, so I know it could be a good tournament for me.”
Sam Querrey [18] v Milos Raonic [32]
Last US man standing Sam Querrey has had at times a bit of a rocky ride to this point, struggling against qualifier Yuki Bhambri in the previous round, but looked in good form against Feliciano Lopez to book his place in the quarter-finals – his first in the Californian desert.
Meanwhile Milos Raonic, enjoying his first back to back wins this year here in Indian Wells received a walkover when Marcos Baghdatis had to withdraw before the match due to illness. Raonic reached the final in Indian wells two years ago, and is now in the quarter=finals for the fourth time, which should be a boost to an indifferent season so far.
This will be a battle of the big hitters and form would suggest that Querrey might just keep US hopes alive while Raonic makes the long journey back from injuries that have plagued him his entire career.
Men’s R16 Results
- Roger Federer [1] def. Jeremy Chardy 7-5 6-4
- Hyeon Chung [23] def Pablo Cuevas [30] 6-1 7-6(3)
- Borna Coric def. Taylor Fritz 6-2 6-7(6) 6-4
- Kevin Anderson [7] def. Pablo Carreno Busta [11] 4-6 6-3 7-6(6)
- Philipp Kohlscreiber def. Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-4 7-6(1)
- Sam Querrey [18] def. Feliciano Lopez [28] 6-3 6-4
- Juan Martin Del Potro [6] def. Leonardo Mayer 3-6 7-6(2) 6-3
- Milos Raonic [32] def. Marcos Baghdatis W/O
The women’s quarter-finals will conclude and the men’s will start with play beginning at 11am (6pm GMT).
Main Image: Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
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