Cincinnati: Roger Federer engineered a 6-1, 6-1 rout in less than an hour, outclassing the big-serving Kevin Anderson to join Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals of the ATP and WTA Cincinnati Masters on Thursday.
Switzerland’s Federer swept the first set in 21 minutes and began the second set with a break taken by South African Anderson.
“I’m pleased with a rock-solid performance,” said the six-time champion. “I know it’s only the quarters, but I’m playing great tennis. I hope I can keep it up tomorrow.”
While the second seed was able to make it all look easy, it was a slog for an exhausted Andy Murray as the third-seeded Montreal title-winner needed a shade under three hours to put down Grigor Dimitrov 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 7-5.
Dimitrov led by a set and two breaks before Murray hauled the second set back. The Bulgarian then owned the third 5-2, but could not close it out despite getting to match point.
Murray gathered the last of his reserves to take the win, his 26th at the tournament, which he won in 2008 and 2011.
Djokovic also survived a scare in the pursuit of a first career Cincinnati title, with the top seed holding off David Goffin 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.
Djokovic, aiming to become the first man to win all eight Masters 1000 events, nearly found himself on the sidelines as his 13th-seeded Belgian opponent won the second set and went two breaks up in the decider.
But the experienced Serb pulled back from the brink, levelling at 3-3 and ran out the winner after a tense one and three-quarter hours.
Djokovic stayed alive despite seven double-faults and five breaks of his serve.
“It was a solid first set, but whatever happened in the next 45 minutes I don’t want to remember it.
“Luckily for me I managed to bounce back, dig myself out of this hole I was in,” added Djokovic, who admitted he had struggled to adjust to the conditions.
Djokovic will face Stan Wawrinka in the next round after the Swiss fifth seed prevailed over Ivo Karlovic to win 6-7 (2/7), 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/5).
“I’m really happy to get the win, you know what to expect from him,” said Wawrinka, who saw 35 aces from Karlovic fly past him. “You need to stay calm and aggressive.
“I’m happy with the way I stayed positive with body language, and always made him play one more ball. You must accept that he will have a lot of aces. I’m happy to get through.”
Sixth seed Tomas Berdych crushed Spain’s Tommy Robredo 6-0, 6-1.
Frenchman Richard Gasquet knocked out US Open winner Marin Cilic, the seventh seed, on the cusp of a Grand Slam title defence, leaving the Croatian hurting after a 7-5, 6-3 loss.
Former champion Rafael Nadal, seeded eighth, lost to Spanish compatriot Feliciano Lopez 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) in another night-time marathon.
Women’s holder Serena Williams dispatched Karin Knapp 6-0, 6-2, while sixth seed Ana Ivanovic overhauled Sloane Stephens 2-6, 6-4, 6-1.
“Everyone enjoys easier matches. I think testing is also really important, but at the end of the day if you could have only easy matches for the whole tournament I don’t think anyone would object to that,” Williams said after her stroll in 54 minutes.
Williams won’t get her wish in the next round as she plays former world number one Ivanovic who is having a strong season. It will be a rerun of their final from 12 months ago.
French Open finalist Lucie Safarova advanced to the quarter-finals when injured opponent Belinda Bencic quit trailing 6-2. Jelena Jankovic punished eighth seed Karolina Pliskova 6-2, 3-6, 7-5.
Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka had to stop with leg pain after being taped at the end of the first set, handing a 1-6, 3-0 win to Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
