Cincinnati: World No.2 Roger Federer posted his second win of the day, amid a lightning fear interruption, to reach the semifinals of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters tennis tournament here, Friday. The seven-time champion beat fellow Swiss Stan Wawrinka 6-7(2/7), 7-6(8/6), 6-2.
The match was interrupted for 21 minutes with players being sent off court and crowds told to seek shelter as a storm cell passed near the site.
But after the pause, the pair came back out, with Federer finally securing the first break of the match on his seventh chance to take a 4-2 lead over his longtime rival.
Federer closed out victory two games later and will next face David Goffin after the Belgian beat Juan Martin del Potro 7-6(7/5), 7-6(7/4). Federer began his day by beating Leo Mayer 6-1, 7-6(8/6).
“It’s quite unusual to stop for lightning,” Federer said after beating Wawrinka for the 23rd time in 26 meetings. “I didn’t know if it meant the end of the night or that we would come back. I got my energy back for the third set, the momentum shift was good for me.”
Elsewhere, former World No.1 Novak Djokovic also won his second match of the day to set up a semifinal clash with Marin Cilic. The Serb 10th seed followed up a 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 third round defeat of holder Grigor Dimitrov earlier in the day of a rainy week by beating Milos Raonic 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.
“I’ve played five finals here,” Djokovic said. “But I do wish to win the title. I’m here to enjoy a sport that I love, I’ve got plenty of motivation. I’m in a good position, so I’ll take it step by step.”
Cilic put out Spanish 13th seed Pablo Carreno Busta 7-6(9/7), 6-4. “I haven’t played any matches on the centre court. I feel and I heard that it’s completely different. It’s much faster,” Cilic said.
Women’s top seed Simona Halep recovered from 1-4 down in the opening set to defeat Lesia Tsurenko 6-4, 6-1.
It was the second fightback of the day for Halep, who came from a break down in each set to overhaul Australian 16th seed Ashleigh Barty 7-5, 6-4 several hours earlier in the third round.
Double Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova reached the final four over beating Belgian Elise Mertens 7-5, 5-7, 6-3.
She will face Kiki Bertens after the Dutchwoman defeated Ukrainian fifth seed Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-3.