By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, May 1, 2015

 

Roger Federer hit 11 aces in a 7-6 (3), 6-7 (5), 6-3 Istanbul quarterfinal conquest of Daniel Gimeno-Traver.

Photo credit: TEB BNP Paribas Istanbul Open

Fans erupted in the wave after the opening set. Skid marks from protracted slides zig-zagged the red clay court and one fan bopped around in the aisles swinging a cardboard "Federer Forever" sign as a dance partner.

Signs of motion were everywhere in Istanbul.

Roger Federer's committment to keep moving forward kept the festive feeling going.

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Federer slashed 11 aces, moved fluidly and attacked decisively down the stretch defeating Daniel Gimeno-Traver, 7-6 (3), 6-7 (5), 6-3, to advance to the Istanbul Open semifinals.

The top-seeded Swiss will face 63rd-ranked Argentine Diego Schwartzman for a spot in Sunday's final.

After winning only four points on his serve in the first set, Schwartzman rallied for an 0-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory over No. 4 seed Santiago Giraldo in the day's first quarterfinal.

"I have advanced to the first semifinal of my career," Schwartzman told ATP World Tour. "I lost the first eight games. He started playing really well and maybe I was a little bit nervous. Sometimes it happens. The crowd was amazing for me. I hope tomorrow will be the same."

Continuing his quest for an 85th career title, Federer carries a 2-0 record against the 5-foot-7 Argentine into their semifinal. Federer swept Schwartzman, 6-4, 6-2, in Indian Wells in March after a straight-sets win in the 2014 Roland Garros second round.

No. 2 seed Grigor Dimitrov defeated Ivan Dodig, 6-4, 6-3, to power into his first semifinal since his season-opening tournament in Brisbane in January. Dimitrov will play Pablo Cuevas in Saturday's second semifinal. The third-seeded Cuevas was a 7-5, 6-3 victor over Thomaz Bellucci.

In their first career meeting, Federer and Gimeno-Traver exchanged early breaks before settling in on serve.

Federer fired a second-serve ace — his fourth of the opening set — to hold for 5-4 after 35 minutes.

The top seed's finesse and brilliance inside the service box turned the tie break in his favor.

A backhand drop volley drew the 62nd-ranked Spaniard forward, Federer slid to his left anticipating the reply and knifed a backhand volley down the line for a 4-2 lead in the breaker. Pasting a forehand into the corner, Federer earned triple set point.

The ensuing 12-shot rally was one of the most exciting exchanges of the set. Gimeno-Traver did well bending to dig out a low half-volley with some sidespin. Federer did even better flicking a sharp-angled backhand pass crosscourt. The level of control was impressive. Moving forward, Federer struck hard enough to freeze his opponent, but curled the ball softly enough to land inside the sideline. That bit of dazzle ended the 50-minute first set in which Federer won 10 of 14 points played on his second serve.

As the crew hosed down the court, the enthusiastic crowd bubbled into a spontaneous wave.

The drop shot played a pivotal part in the second set. Gimeno-Traver used it to help build a 5-2 lead, and Federer explored the front court fighting back to level.

Gimeno-Traver began playing harder and sometimes heavier to the Swiss's one-handed backhand. He carved out some exquisite droppers, including a pair to help save break points in the third game, holding for a 2-1 second-set lead. Empowered, the Casablanca finalist broke for 3-1 then saved break points in his next two service games, eventually extending the lead to 5-2.

A short chip backhand return drew Gimeno-Traver into an awkward spot inside the serve box, he rattled a backhand down the line and Federer broke back for 4-5.

Racing through 11 of 12 points, Federer earned triple break point at 5-all, but he failed to put a return in play on the first. Gimeno-Traver blocked a backhand volley into the tape that plopped over saving the second and a serve that careened off the service line saved the third break point, helping him hold for 6-5.

Federer's futillity on break-point chances — he converted just one of eight break points in the second set — proved costly. Gimeno-Traver hit a service winner and Federer shanked a forehand giving the Spaniard double set point at 6-4 in the tie break. When Federer flattened a backhand into net, Gimeno-Traver closed the 61-minute second set.

Looking a little frustrated by developments, Federer fell into triple break-point hole to start the third. He fought off all three only to slap a forehand into net off his back foot and bark into his sleeve in anger over that miss. That bit of stress-relief seemed to help him refocus. Federer saved a fourth break point with a fine serve-and-volley angling off a forehand volley to spark a hard-fought hold for 1-0.

Opening and closing the seventh game with aces, Federer held at 15 for 4-3.

Scoreboard pressure and Federer's forward thinking combined to create the only break of the decider. Attacking behind a backhand down the line, Federer his first break point of the set. A backhand return down the line set up a stunning backhand drop volley to secure the break and a 5-3 lead. The shot brought fans to their feet and had to feel especially sweet for Federer, who had been victimized by the dropper during the second set.

Sliding an ace down the middle, Federer closed in two hours, 27 minutes.