Second-seeded Roger Federer will be taking on Feliciano Lopez in the quarterfinal of the Cincinnati Masters on Friday. Federer is looking confident to win his seventh Cincinnati Masters title.
The road to the quarterfinal was rather easy for the Swiss tennis legend. He defeated Roberto Bautista Agut in the second round (6-4,6-4) and in the third round stormed past Kevin Anderson (6-1, 6-1). He has now set up a clash with Lopez in the quarterfinals.
"Definitely felt better than the other days. Felt good on the return, felt good on the serve, seeing just the ball really well. It's a pleasure to play that way because it doesn't happen very often that you feel this good. So you've got to enjoy it, but then, unfortunately, you have to quickly put it behind you and look forward," Federer told reporters after cruising into the quarterfinals.
"I played a great match and I'm very pleased, because I knew that tough challenge ahead. I had practised with Kevin last week here. I lost both sets I played with him in practice, so I was really happy that I was able to turn it around tonight. Then on the Tour I don't think I lost against him, but we played on all different conditions, and we know each other obviously very well because of that. It was a tough match for him tonight; played a good breaker. Obviously everybody knows how well he can serve. He also beat Raonic here, now Rafa. Clearly he's on a run," Federer added.
Meanwhile, Lopez shocked the eighth seeded Rafael Nadal in the third round (5-7, 6-4, 7-6) and cancelled the chance of a Federer- Nadal quarter final show at the Cincinnati Masters quarterfinal.
Lopez went pass his fellow countryman after a hard-fought battle. He came back from a set down against the Spanish tennis star. This was only the fourth time out of 13 meetings that Lopez outplayed Nadal.
Lopez has also looked good so far in the tournament and has registered three back-to-back victories over Milos Raonic, Andreas Seppi and in his last game against Nadal in the Cincinnati Masters tournament.
"It means a lot when you beat such a good player like him. It's not a normal match. It's something different and the atmosphere there when you play against Rafa, it's always something special ... I think he's playing better, getting better and better. He played good today. I mean I was playing really my best today. Doesn't matter the way he played because I was playing so good today," Lopez told the media.
Where to Watch Live
Roger Federer vs Feliciano Lopez quarter final has been scheduled for 7 pm local time (4:30am IST, 12 am BST and 11 am GMT) start. Tennis fans in India can catch the game live on Ten Action.
Viewers in the UK can watch quarter final live between Roger Federer and Feliciano Lopez on Sky Sports 3/HD.
US viewers can switch to ESPN 3 for the coverage of the Roger Federer vs Feliciano Lopez quarter final with an online option of Watch ESPN.
International viewers can stream the quarter final between Roger Federer and Feliciano Lopez live on Tennis Tv.
