By Chris Oddo | Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal each made short work of their overwhelmed opponents on Wednesday at the Swiss Indoors Basel.
Photo Source: Reuters
A combined one hour and 43 minutes was all it took for Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal to take care of their on-court business on Wednesday at the Swiss Indoors Basel, as each moved through in straight sets against overwhelmed opponents.
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Nadal was first of the two to take the court, against Frenchman Pierre Hugues Herbert, and he was relentless from the onset, racing past the world No. 120 6-1, 6-1 to book his spot in the quarterfinals.
The Spaniard, who was diagnosed with appendicitis while in Beijing two weeks ago, showed no ill effects from the injury while thrashing the 23-year-old. Nadal hit 15 winners against only seven unforced errors and converted on five of six break points against the clearly nervous Frenchman.
Federer made even shorter work of his opponent, whizzing through two lopsided sets to down Gilles Muller, 6-2, 6-1, in 46 minutes.
The victory is Federer’s 8th consecutive tour-level victory and his fifth in five matches against the 33-year-old from Luxembourg.
Federer is bidding for his sixth Basel title after being denied by Juan Martin del Potro in the last two seasons in his hometown.
According to Twitter user Vibhu Batra, Federer achieved a speed record for Basel with the win.
Federer will face Denis Istomin in the second round in Basel, while Nadal will face either Borna Coric or Andrey Golubev in the third round.