Federer Escapes Scare to Reach Istanbul Semis

May 1, 2015 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

Roger Federer survived a strong test from Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver in the Istanbul Open third-round on Friday, advancing with a 7-6(3), 6-7(5), 6-3 victory.

Gimeno-Traver kept himself in the match by saving 10 of the 13 break points he faced, but the world number two from Switzerland was just too tough, breaking while up 4-3 and consolidating it to close out the contest in two hours and 28 minutes.

Federer will take on eighth-seed Diego Schwartzman in the semifinals. Schwartzman made his way into the first ATP World Tour semifinal of his career with a 0-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory over fourth-seed Santiago Giraldo.

Schwartzman actually dropped the first eight games of this match, but recovered nicely to reach the first final four of his career.

“I have advanced to the first semifinal of my career,” he said after the match. “I lost the first eight games. He started playing really well and maybe I was a little bit nervous. Sometimes it happens. The crowd was amazing for me. I hope tomorrow will be the same.”

Second-seeded Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov also reached the semifinals on Friday, cruising past Croat Ivan Dodig 6-4, 6-3 to advance. He will play the winner of Pablo Cuevas and Thomaz Bellucci in the final four. 


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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