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By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, October 12, 2017

 
Roger Federer

Roger Federer dismissed Alexandr Dolgopolov, 6-4, 6-2, charging into the Shanghai Rolex Masters quarterfinals for the first time since 2014 when he won the title.

Photo credit: Shanghai Rolex Masters Facebook

A smooth flick from Roger Federer’s backhand splattered the ball by Alexandr Dolgopolov eliciting an admiring gasp from the Shanghai fans.

Give Federer an hour and he can sting your senses.

More: Nadal Flogs Fognini Rolls Into Shanghai Quarterfinals

In a sharp all-court display, Federer dismissed Dolgopolov, 6-4, 6-2, charging into the Shanghai Rolex Masters quarterfinals for the first time since 2014 when he defeated Gilles Simon to take the title.




The second-seeded Swiss will play Richard Gasquet for a spot in Saturday’s semifinals.

In an all-French clash, Gasquet stopped Simon, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 6-3, raising his record to 7-0 vs. his 47th-ranked compatriot.

Federer outclassed the Ukrainian qualifier for the fifth time in as many meetings in a dazzling 60-minute display of attacking tennis.

The Wimbledon champion doubled Dolgopolov’s winner output—25 to 12—high-stepping to his eighth quarterfinal in 10 tournaments this season.

Federer broke to open as Dolgopolov floated a forehand long then quickly confirmed the break with an ace for 2-0.




Serving for the set in the 10th game, Federer faced his first break point of the day when Dolgopolov slid a backhand pass crosscourt. An aggressive second serve that appeared to touch the line bailed the second seed out of trouble.

Federer flashed a serve winner down the middle building a one-set lead after 27 minutes.

The quick-action contact of Dolgopolov’s serve—he hits the toss nearly on the rise—can make his delivery difficult to read. The Ukrainian bent his second ace out wide saving a break point and eventually holding to start the second set.

A jolting return from Federer drove Dolgopolov backward as the Swiss banged out the break for 3-2.




Effectively mixing the pace and depth of his shots, Federer disarmed Dolgopolov from all areas of the court.

An audacious angle Federer created with a running forehand gave him break point in the sixth game. Dologopolov denied it with an ace. Federer seared a forehand winner breaking again for 5-2.

The Federer serve was a statement shot today. He swatted 11 aces and fended off the only break point he faced in the match.

Sliding a serve winner down the middle, Federer closed the match in style raising his record to 41-4 on the season.

The 36-year-old Federer extended his dominance of Dolgopolov and will try to continue his mastery of Gasquet. Federer is 15-2 lifetime vs. the 31-year-old Frenchman, who won their first meeting in a third-set tie break back in the 2005 Monte Carlo Rolex Masters.

 

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