Roger Federer powers into semi-finals of Dubai Tennis Championships 2011
Roger Federer qualified for the semi-finals of the Dubai Tennis Championships 2011 after beating Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-3, 6-4 on Thursday.
The four-time defending champion has not lost a set en route to semi-finals and is looking favourite to win the 68th title of his career.
Federer started the opening set slowly and was broken in the first game but he immediately broke back to level the score 1-1. The Swiss faced three consecutive break points in the next game as he was down 0-40. However, he hit four consecutive aces to hold
his serve. He then broke his opponent in the eighth game to serve for the set and comfortably won it 6-3.
Federer hit four aces and saved five of the six break points he faced in the first set. In comparison, Stakhovsky managed to save only one of the three break points he faced.
The Swiss broke early for a 2-1 lead in the second set. Stakhovsky had a chance to break back when Federer served at 2-3, and two more at 3-4, but the Ukrainian could not capitalise on any one of them and allowed the top-seed to serve for the match.
The 43rd ranked Ukrainian hit a forehand long to hand over the second set 6-4 to Federer. The Swiss legend hit 64 per cent of the first serves and saved all three break points he faced. Stakhovsky hit a single ace and won 68 per cent of the points
on his first serve in the second set.
In the post match press conference, Federer said, “I thought it was a tough match, tougher than the last couple, just because of the start of the match, obviously that was tricky. So, it was important to stay with him there, and then sort of finding the
rhythm, how to play him, how is he playing, how is he serving.”
“I try not to waste any energy. Most important thing is to come through,” added Federer. “It doesn't matter if it's three times 7-6 in a row, to get to the semi-final. At the end of the day, you want to give yourself chances to win the trophy, and that's
what I'm doing.”
Federer will play world number 28, Frenchman Richard Gasquet in the semi-finals, who got the better of his countryman Gilles Simon in the quarterfinals. The Swiss leads the head-to-head record 7-1 against the 24-year-old French.
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