Federer sets up Dimitrov duel as Azarenka soars
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ROGER Federer recalled the celebrations and the festive atmosphere of his 1,000th match victory on tour as soon as he returned to the Brisbane International to fine-tune his preparations for the Australian Open.
He achieved the milestone in the final here last year, when he beat Milos Raonic and shared the podium with some of the players he revered from a previous era.
His first practice was positive, he said, then he picked up an illness from one of his four kids — the whole family had it — and his attempt at a title defense was shaky for a while.
On the fifth day of the tournament, Federer finally opened his 2016 season with a commanding 6-2, 6-1 win over German qualifier Tobias Kamke, and advanced to a quarterfinal against Grigor Dimitrov, who beat Viktor Troicki 5-7, 7-6 (6), 6-2 earlier.
“It was a big deal for me (the 1,000th win). I didn’t expect it to be as big of a deal as it actually ended up being,” Federer said. “It was very special because it was a final ... plus, Rod Laver and Roy Emerson were on the court to hand me the trophy and be in the picture with me and the number 1,000. I was happy I didn’t mess it up.”
The 17-time major winner converted five of his six breakpoint chances and saved the only one he faced against Kamke, finding his touch quickly and dispelling pre-match rumors that he might be carrying an injury.
Raonic, also back in action for the first time this season, defeated Croatia’s Ivan Dodig 6-7 (2), 6-1, 6-4 and will next meet Lucas Pouille, who upset sixth-seeded David Goffin 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-3.
While the top-ranked women have succumbed to injuries or inconsistency in the first week of the season, Victoria Azarenka has maintained her surge in form.
The two-time Australian Open champion reached the Brisbane International semifinals by beating eighth-seeded Roberta Vinci 6-1, 6-2.
She has dropped just 10 games en route to the semis, where she’ll meet Samantha Crawford, a US qualifier who beat Andrea Pektovic 6-3, 6-0.
In Shenzhen, south China, Agnieszka Radwanska advanced to the semifinals of the Shenzhen Open by beating Wang Qiang of China 6-3, 6-2.
The top-seeded Pole, who saved two break points in the second set, will next face Anna-Lena Friedsam of Germany. Friedsam beat Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic 6-4, 2-6, 6-1.
In the other semifinal match, Timea Babos of Hungary will take on Alison Riske of the United States.
Babos defeated sixth-seeded Eugenie Bouchard of Canada 6-4, 6-4 while Riske beat Annett Kontaveit of Estonia 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.
In Perth, Ukraine advanced to its second Hopman Cup final with a 2-1 win over Australia Gold yesterday.
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