By Chris Oddo | Thursday, May 14, 2015
Roger Federer needed three match pointS and three opportunities to serve the match out, but he got past Kevin Anderson in Rome in straight sets.
Photo Source: Mike Hewitt/Getty .
Roger Federer bonked on his first two chances to serve out Kevin Anderson, then immediately broke the South African and capitalized on his third chance to notch a 6-3, 7-5 win at the Foro Italico on Thursday in Rome.
Federer improves to 3-0 against the 28-year-old South African and improves to 29-14 lifetime at Rome. It is one of two Masters 1000 events where the three-time finalist has not lifted the trophy, along with Monte-Carlo.
Federer turned in a crisp opener, ripping 12 winners against only 5 unforced errors, and breaking serve in Anderson’s first service game. He would close the opener by crushing a one-handed backhand winner down the line at the 26-minute mark.
After cruising through the second set to the precipice of the finish line, Federer’s game suddenly went astray. He was broken twice, failing to convert two match points at 5-2, and squandered a double-break lead when Anderson rifled a second-serve return for a winner to level at 5-all.
But Federer hit back immediately to give himself a third chance to serve it out and he closed the match out when Anderson netted a forehand on Federer’s third match point.
Federer will face either Tomas Berdych or Fabio Fognini in the quarterfinals.