Six-time winner Roger Federer crushed Spain’s Feliciano Lopez 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the semifinals of the ATP and WTA Cincinnati Masters on Friday, earning a 12th straight win without a loss in that series.
The second seed lost just four points on serve in the opening set as he steamrolls through his matches in what will be his lone tune-up for the Open which begins a week from Monday.
The defending champion Federer, who is chasing a fifth trophy this season, improved to 43-7 on the season after a minimal 61-minute sweep.
“I’m very happy with how I got out of the blocks again,” said Federer, who last played in the Wimbledon final. “I wasn’t sure how I’d come back from vacation and training. I’m pleased with how I’m playing.
“I’m playing great tennis and I’m feeling good, feeling healthy and enjoying myself. That’s important at this point of my career.
“I feel better at the net than I ever have and I hope to keep that up. I want to win the US Open again but I still have work to get done here.”
Murray rallies
Britain’s third seed Andy Murray rallied after losing the first set to Richard Gasquet, turning the tide for a 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 win.
Murray, who is trying to back up last week’s Montreal title with his third in Cincinnati, fired 35 winners and broke four times in just over two hours against his French opponent.
The Scot admitted that his stamina is running low.
“I’m obviously tired; I’ve played a lot of matches, a lot of late nights. My recovery hasn’t been perfect either. ”
Defending champion Serena Williams swept the last six games to overhaul Ana Ivanovic 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 in a repeat of the 2014 final won by the American.
Her next opponent will be Ukrainian 14th seed Elina Svitolina, who upset Roland Garros finalist Lucie Safarova 6-4, 2-6, 6-0.
Sania-Hingis duo in last four
Sania Mirza was the only Indian left competing in the Western and Southern Open by reaching the semifinals as Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna were ousted from the men’s doubles with their respective partners, here.
Top seeded Indo-Swiss pair of Sania and Martina Hingis outplayed the American wild cards Christina McHale and CoCo Vandeweghe 6-4, 6-1 to move into the semifinals.
They will now fight it out with Taipei pair of Hao-Ching Chan and Yung-Jan Chan for a place in the final.
In the ATP Masters event, fifth seed Bopanna and Florin Mergea lost the hard fought quarterfinal 1-6, 6-1, 12-14 to second seeds Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo. In the other quarterfinal, Paes and Stan Wawrinka suffered a 6-3, 2-6, 12-14 defeat at the hands of Feliciano Lopez and Max Mirnyi.
The results: Men: Quarterfinals: Alexandr Dolgopolov bt Tomas Berdych 6-4, 6-2; Andy Murray bt Richard Gasquet 4-6, 6-1, 6-4; Roger Federer bt Feliciano Lopez 6-3, 6-4.
Doubles: Rohan Bopanna & Florin Mergea lost to Ivan Dodig & Marcelo Melo 1-6, 6-1, 12-14; Leander Paes & Stan Wawrinka lost to Feliciano Lopez & Max Mirnyi 6-3, 2-6, 12-14.
Women: Quarterfinals: Serena Williams bt Ana Ivanovic 3-6, 6-4, 6-2;Elina Svitolina bt Lucie Safarova 6-4, 2-6, 6-0; Simona Halep bt Anna Schmiedlova 7-6(3), 6-2; Jelena Jankovic bt Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4, 6-2.
Doubles: Sania Mirza & Martina Hingis bt Christina McHale & CoCo Vandeweghe 6-4, 6-1.
