Federer needs three sets again, Zverev and Anderson also advance in Shanghai

Roger Federer won a second consecutive match 6-4 in the third at the Rolex Shanghai Masters on Thursday. Federer, who escaped Tokyo champion Daniil Medvedev in his opener, held off Roberto Bautista Agut 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 during third-round action.

The 37-year-old Swiss improved to 8-0 lifetime against Bautista Agut despite surrendering a set to the Spaniard for the first time.

“I thought at 4-4 in the third set I was playing a good match,” Federer noted. “It was the same as yesterday…. I was a set and a break up and you would have thought maybe that was enough…. You might see negative bits because it’s so close and you’re so close from losing. But today I was more calm. Maybe I just had it in my racket somehow. It was just important for me to stay calm all the way through…. I’m happy I found something at the end and now I’m into the quarters. I’m very pleased.”

Thursday highlights:

The world No. 2 is joined in the quarterfinals by Alexander Zverev, who will officially join Federer at the Nitto ATP Finals if he wins one more match in Shanghai. Zverev moved within one victory of clinching after he trounced Alex de Minaur 6-1, 6-4 on Thursday.

“I thought I played well from start to finish,” the 21-year-old German commented. “I’m definitely happy with the match today–especially the first set. Obviously playing aggressive, trying to push him back a little bit (was the key).

“Look, I’m going day by day. Because in the last few months I haven’t been playing my best. But in Beijing (last week) I was practicing well. I feel well’ I’m a little sick now, still. Hopefully this tournament can really show what I’ve been working on and how hard I’ve been working.”

Fellow London contender Kevin Anderson took another step by beating Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 7-6(1). It was an especially crucial win for Anderson because Kei Nishikori–one of just two players with a real chance of passing Anderson in the 2018 race–continued his late-season charge toward the O2 Arena with a 7-6(7), 6-4 win over Sam Querrey.

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