Federer Sets Up Seppi Rematch, as Wawrinka Ousted by Haase at Indian Wells

March 16, 2015 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Federer_01_20
Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

While a number of Americans pulled off some surprising victories on Sunday at the BNP Paribas Open, the biggest came from a Dutchman, as the Netherlands’ Robin Haase upset seventh-seeded Swiss Stan Wawrinka 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to move into the Indian Wells third-round.

Ranked 104th in the world, Haase came into Sunday’s contest with Wawrinka 0-6 against the Swiss, but took advantage of Wawrinka’s poor service games, breaking him four times in five chances.

The win is the fourth over a top 10 opponent in his career and puts him into a third-round contest against 30th-seeded Lukas Rosol. The Czech stormed back after the dropping the first set in his match, beating Slovakia’s Martin Klizan 4-6, 6-0, 6-3.

World number two Roger Federer cruised into the third round with a 6-4, 6-2 over Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman. He was his usual self, playing aggressively as he won 13 of 14 points at the net and didn’t miss a beat on his own to serve to cruise in just over an hour.

The win sets up a rematch with Italy’s Andreas Seppi, who beat Federer at the Australian Open earlier this season, snapping Federer’s 11-match winning streak over Seppi.

“I’m happy to play him again. I was very disappointed with the performance I had in Australia,” said Federer. “I know he can play well and beat me, that’s not the problem. It was the way I was hitting the ball. I wasn’t play very committed.”

Seppi pushed through into the Indian Wells third-round with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Victor Hanescu.

In one of the better matches of the weekend, 11th seeded Grigor Dimitrov hung on to beat Australian Nick Kyrgios 7-6(2), 3-6, 7-6(4). Kyrgios mishandled a couple of mini break chances in the final tiebreaker, allowing Dimitrov to escape the two-hour and 11 minute contest.

“It’s still early in the year, so still trying to find my game,” said Dimitrov. “I think it just takes a bit of time to really find that rhythm. Coming to the tournament, to any tournament now, I feel more much more comfortable, much more confident.”

Up next for the Bulgarian is 17th seeded Tommy Robredo who beat Andrey Golubev 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-4 on Sunday.

Sixth-seeded Canadian Milos Raonic also advanced to the third round Sunday, knocking off Italy’s Simone Bolelli in straight sets 6-3, 6-4.


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Bethpage
Century

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