Roger Federer will continue his Indian Wells campaign against Australian Open semifinal opponent Hyeon Chung on Thursday. The first day of quarterfinal action is also featuring a showdown between Kevin Anderson and Borna Coric.
(1) Roger Federer vs. (23) Hyeon Chung
It will be a rematch of an underwhelming Australian Open semifinal when Federer and Chung meet again in the quarters of the BNP Paribas Open on Thursday. Chung made an improbable run Down Under, but it ended in unceremonious fashion as he retired due to foot blisters while trailing Federer 6-1, 5-2. The 26-year-old South Korean missed half of February thereafter, but he returned to reach quarterfinals in Delray Beach and Acapulco. He now finds himself in the last eight of the Indian Wells Masters following defeats of Dusan Lajovic, Tomas Berdych, and Pablo Cuevas.
Based on both of his own play and how the rest of the tour is faring these days, Federer is looking like he might begin this season just as he did last one–with titles at the Australian Open, in Indian Wells, and also in Miami. The world No. 1 is a perfect 15-0 in 2018 and he has prevailed so far in the desert without donating a set to Federico Delbonis, Filip Krajinovic, and Jeremy Chardy. Federer has not been at his absolute best this week, but he generally raises his level when they competition gets tough–and it does just that in the form of a now-healthy Chung.
Pick: Federer in 2 losing 8-10 games
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Borna Coric vs. (7) Kevin Anderson
Anderson and Coric will be going head-to-head for the fourth time in their careers on Thursday. All three of their previous encounters have gone the way of Anderson, who is 7-0 in total sets in this matchup with only one set having progressed to a tiebreaker. They most recently faced each other at the 2017 U.S. Open, where the 6’8” South African cruised 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.
Coric, though, is in the midst of perhaps the most impressive tournament of his career. The 21-year-old Croat is through to the quarterfinals of a Masters 1000 for the third time ever (first in either Indian Wells or Miami) and has done so while dropping just a single set–to Taylor Fritz in the fourth round. Coric had previously surrendered no more than three games in any set against Donald Young, Albert Ramos-Vinolas, and Roberto Bautista Agut. Anderson has advanced with victories over Evgeny Donskoy, Nicolas Kicker, and Pablo Carreno Busta–the latter in a third-set tiebreaker. The world No. 9 is an outstanding 14-3 this season with a title in New York and a runner-up performance in Acapulco. Anderson should have the edge once again over Coric, but this will undoubtedly be more competitive than their previous affairs based on the underdog’s current level.
Pick: Anderson in 3
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