By Chris Oddo | Friday November 2, 2018
Roger Federer is catching fire at the right time in Paris.
The Swiss notched his seventh straight victory on Friday—and his sixth in succession against Kei Nishikori—surging to a 6-4, 6-4 triumph that books him a place alongside Novak Djokovic in the Rolex Paris Masters semifinals.
Federer, who had managed to win the title in Basel without his best serving, dialed the stroke up a notch on Friday, winning 28 of 29 first-serve points and saving the only break point he faced to knock Nishikori off in just a smidgen under 80 minutes.
The victory places Federer in his 200th career semifinal and leaves him two wins from his 100th career title. Federer has claimed four titles in 2018, including two indoors at Rotterdam and Basel.
It was a stylish, dominant performance from Federer from start to finish that saw the Swiss hit several jaw-dropping winners and constantly keep Nishikori off balance.
“I think for me it was really important to go through two sets and not get broken and play very consistently and solid and not make too many wild shots on my own service games and just play solid and I think I was able to deliver that in a very nice way today,” Federer said, adding: “Kei is one of the best returners in the game and if you allow him to come into your service games too frequently, he's going to really hurt you.”
Federer was efficient on return as well, winning 16 of 37 first-serve return points and breaking once in each set—twice on three opportunities overall.
The Swiss will renew his rivalry with Djokovic on Saturday as the pair will contest their 47th meeting. Djokovic holds the 24-22 lifetime edge which includes a 6-4 6-4 decision in their last meeting at this year’s Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati.
"I want to play well. I want to try to win, obviously,” Federer said. “I know he's on a hot streak so I think it's going to be tough. But nevertheless I think I've got nothing to lose. I also like this type of surface, I like playing indoors. Indoors has treated me very well, winning Rotterdam and Basel. I think I'm ready to do something tomorrow, but clearly I have to play a lot of good tennis tomorrow because those are the question Novak asks of you.”