-
Roger Federer - Source: Reuters -
Related
Roger Federer battled into the quarter-finals of the ATP event
in Indian Wells on Thursday with a 6-3 5-7 6-2 victory over
Fernando Gonzalez of Chile.
The world number two raised his game when he needed to as he came
through his first real test of the week, setting up a clash with
10th seed Fernando Verdasco.
Defending champion Novak Djokovic came through another tight
encounter, beating Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka 7-6 7-6, while
Britain's Andy Murray also advanced after opponent Tommy Robredo
retired injured.
"I enjoy playing Fernando because it's so tactical," Federer
said.
"But then at the same time it's so brutal, so aggressive. You think
you have a slight chance to win the point, and then you realise,
no, there's actually none."
Federer cruised through the first set but Gonzalez, unleashing a
series of spectacular forehand winners, broke in the 12th game of
the second set to force a decider.
Federer then hit another gear, breaking in the third game of the
third set and then again in the seventh before serving out for
victory.
The Swiss has won both his previous matches with Verdasco, but the
Spaniard looked in good form in beating Philipp Kohlschreiber of
Germany 6-4 3-6 6-1.
"I'm looking forward to playing more baseline rallies against
Verdasco," Federer said.
"I'm sure that's going to happen. It's a good thing that I'm still
in the tournament and facing an opponent who actually is going to
extend the rallies a little bit. It's going to be a nice match, I'm
sure."
Wawrinka had a set-point in the second set that would have taken
his match to a decider, but third seed Djokovic saved it and now
plays either Andy Roddick or David Ferrer.
Fourth seed Murray cruised into the last eight when Robredo
retired with a right wrist injury. The Scot was leading 6-2 3-0
when Robredo quit.
Murray will meet Croat Ivan Ljubicic, who saved five match points
before beating Russian Igor Andreev.
Later on Thursday, world number one Rafa Nadal plays Argentine
David Nalbandian.
