Montreal: Swiss star Roger Federer outclassed Roberto Bautista Agut as he inched closer to his sixth title of the season with a 6-4, 6-4 win in the quarterfinals of the Montreal Masters tennis tournament here Friday. In the women’s segment former World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki sprang a huge surprise beating the current No. 1 Karolina Pliskova.
Federer hammered five aces, made just two double faults and won 81 per cent of his first serve points in the 68-minute centre court match. He dominated at the net, winning 21 of 25 points.
“It pays off playing aggressively here, plus I feel comfortable at net, so why not spend some time there instead of slugging it out from the baseline,” Federer said with a smile after the match. “I think I did a good job again.”
Federer will face Robin Haase of the Netherlands, who defeated Diego Schwartzman 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 earlier in the day.
Bautista Agut struggled on his serve as he was broken three times and won just 65 per cent of his first serve points.
Federer posted his seventh consecutive win over the Spaniard and improved his season record to 34-2. He has an ATP Tour high five titles in 2017.
Meanwhile World No. 143 Denis Shapovalov of Canada continued his Cinderella run Friday by rallying to beat Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Fourth seeded Alexander Zverev defeated South Africa’s Kevin Anderson 7-5, 6-4 to set up a clash with Shapovalov.
Meanwhile Wozniacki rediscovered some of her vintage form as she sealed a semifinal berth with a marathon 7-5, 6-7 (3/7), 6-4 victory over Pliskova. She next faces American Sloane Stephens, who saved three match points in the third set to oust Lucie Safarova 6-2, 1-6, 7-5 in their quarter-final.
At a glance
Roger Federer bt Roberto Bautisa Agut 6-4, 6-4
Robin Haase bt Diego Schwartzman 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
Denis Shapovalov bt Adrian Mannarino 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
Alexander Zverev bt Kevin Anderson 7-5, 6-4
Agencies