It will be Roger Federer vs. Nick Kyrgios in the Mercedes Cup semifinals after they picked up respective victories on Friday. Federer took care of Guido Pella 6-4, 6-4, while Kyrgios survived a second consecutive three-setter via a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 decision against Feliciano Lopez.
The 36-year-old Swiss held all 10 of his service games and did not face a single break point until he suddenly found himself in a 15-40 hole while attempting to close out the match at 5-4 in the second set. Pella saw both chances go by the wayside as Federer won the next four points to clinch victory.
Breaks in the seventh game of the opener and in the first game of set two were enough to propel Stuttgart’s No. 1 seed across the finish line.
“I thought I was in good control today,” Federer assessed. “I thought I served well. I didn’t give Guido many chances to get into my service games, except maybe the last couple. I was happy that I also got more rhythm today. I thought I was able to stay aggressive. I really wanted to cut down the length of the points as much as possible to see how that goes. I think that was a good decision.”
Federer-Pella highlights:
In typical fashion, Kyrgios played a lightning-quick one-hour and 22-minute match despite requiring three sets as he set up a showdown against Federer by defeating Lopez. The 23-year-old Aussie blasted 20 aces compared to five double-faults and did not face a break point in either the first or third sets. A break at 3-3 in the decider proved to be the difference for Kyrgios, who survived a deuce game on serve at 4-3 but then wrapped things up in style with a love hold at 5-3.
Kyrgios-Lopez highlights:
“We’ve had some brutal matches against each other–in Miami, in Madrid…,” Federer reflected. “He’s always dangerous, especially on the grass. I think I will enjoy playing against him.”
The head-to-head series is tied at one win apiece, and both have their previous encounters have featured nothing but tiebreakers. Kyrgios prevailed 6-7(2), 7-6(5), 7-6(12) at the 2015 Madrid Masters before Federer got the job done 7-6(9), 6-7(9), 7-6(5) last spring in Miami.
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