By Chris Oddo | Saturday, August 9, 2014
Roger Federer made short work of Feliciano Lopez, taking out the Spaniard for the 11th time in a row to reach the Toronto finals.
Photo Source: AP
Roger Federer struggled to notch his first break point of the evening against hard-serving Spaniard Feliciano Lopez, but once the Swiss maestro converted on his seventh break point of the fourth game of the first set, he was off to the races.
Federer’s 6-3 6-4 victory sets up a Rogers Cup final against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga for Federer, and marks the 11th time that the 17-time Grand Slam champion has defeated Lopez in 11 appearances.
Lopez, who entered the semifinals having saved 27 of 29 break points, looked to be on course for another epic serving performance on Saturday. But when Federer managed to break him at the end of a marathon ten minute and fifty-four second game in the first set, a bit of the confidence seemed to fall away from the 32-year-old’s body language.
Lopez would commit 25 unforced errors in the first set, and despite his clutch serving that number proved to be too difficult to overcome. The Spaniard wasn't aided by nine double-faults and a 38 percent first-serve percentage, either.
After sealing the first set, Federer would break again to open the second set, but not without some help from Lopez. The Spaniard double-faulted at 30-all to give Federer the break opportunity, then missed on an easy forehand sitter at the net to hand his opponent the game.
Federer, who did not face a break point the entire evening, held serve comfortably the rest of the way to notch his 299th career Masters 1000 victory.
He sealed the victory with an ace at the one hour and twenty-two minute mark.
Notes, Numbers
Federer will bid for his 22nd Masters 1000 title on Sunday. Only Rafael Nadal (27) has more.
The big four (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Murray) has won 36 of the last 39 Masters 1000 titles.