By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, October 12, 2017
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.
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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.