ATP Indian Wells: Roger Federer thumps Kyle Edmund in front of Rod Laver
Following a solid win for Rafael Nadal over Filip Krajinovic earlier today, the five-time Indian Wells champion Roger Federer has stayed on the title course after a 6-1, 6-4 triumph over the 22nd seed Kyle Edmund in swift 63 minutes in front of the legendary Rod Laver! Thus, the Swiss maestro has advanced into his 13th quarter-final in the desert, seeking that elusive sixth crown that would put him ahead of Novak Djokovic who lost to Philipp Kohlschreiber on Tuesday. Roger and Kyle never played against each other before although they had been on the same side during the Laver Cup, having a chance to talk a little bit and also sharing the practice court at the Australian Open this year when Kyle celebrated his 24th birthday.
The Briton stood no chance against the mighty rival today, though, wasting all seven break points he created in three different games and suffering three breaks of serve to push Roger into the last eight. The Swiss had 21 winners and 17 unforced errors while Edmund stayed on 14-20 ratio, unable to do more damage with his forehand or to keep the pace with Federer in the shortest and mid-range exchanges. Roger kicked off the match in the best possible way, holding at 15 in the opening game and breaking Kyle for a 2-0 lead. Nonetheless, the young Briton had the opportunity to pull it back immediately, creating three break points on the return in game three that Federer repelled all to confirm the break and open a 3-0 advantage.
Edmund put himself in an even worse position when he netted a backhand to trail 4-0, allowing Roger to close the opener with a hold at 5-1 after just 27 minutes, hoping for more of the same in set number two. There, he landed a deep return in game five to grab the crucial break, forcing an error from Kyle to fend off a break point at 4-3 and serving for the win in the tenth game. Just like in the opening set, the Briton had a chance to prolong the set and his chances, with three break points up for grabs that Roger dismissed with good serves that got him out of troubles, sealing the deal after another forced error from Kyle to book the place in the last eight and stay on the title course.
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2Uzy0nV
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