Roger Federer and Jerzy Janowicz will be going head-to-head for the first time in their careers when they meet in the quarterfinals of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on Friday night.
Both players are still on course for their best result of the season this week. Federer, who is in search of his first 2013 title, reached semifinals at the Australian Open and in Dubai then took two months off after a quarterfinal loss to Rafael Nadal in Indian Wells. The third-ranked Swiss lost his second match in Madrid to Kei Nishikori, but he has been extremely impressive in Rome blowouts of Potito Starace and Gilles Simon.
Janowicz went into this week with a disappointing 10-9 record for his 2013 campaign, which included only two tournaments (the Australian Open and Marseille) in which he won back-to-back matches. The 24th-ranked Pole, though, is making an inspired run in Rome that evokes memories of his surprise runner-up finish last fall at the Paris Masters. Janowicz opened with a victory over Santiago Giraldo before taking out Top 10 Frenchmen Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Richard Gasquet.
Although his game is better suited for a fast hard court, Janowicz is showing an impressive ability to hit through clay while also showcasing his deft touch. The Federer of this season’s first few months would be ripe for an upset, but the Federer of Rome looks like a different story. A competitive contest has to be expected given the underdog’s form in Rome, but Federer’s previous two rounds were just what the doctor ordered for his reemerging confidence.
Pick: Federer 7-6(6), 6-4
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