Venus, Daria set up semifinal clash: Federer equals his season start feat

INDIAN WELLS, United States: Defending champ Roger Federer equalled his best start to a season with a 7-5, 6-1 win over Chung Hyeon to book his spot in the semi-finals of the Indian Wells Masters on Thursday.Federer, who is seeking a record sixth Indian Wells title, extended his win streak to 16 straight matches, matching the start he had to the 2006 ATP calendar season.

In the semi-finals, Federer will face Croatian Borna Coric who outlasted seventh seeded Kevin Anderson 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3). Federer won 70 percent of his first serve points, had just one double fault and broke Chung’s serve four times in the one hour, 23 minute main stadium match. He clinched the victory on the second match point when he blasted his 12th and final ace of the contest.

Earlier this year he defended his title at the Australian Open, picking up his 20th Grand Slam win. Last month he claimed his 97th singles title with a victory in Rotterdam which helped him regain the world number one ranking and become the oldest No. 1 player in ATP history. And this victory guarantees he will hold onto the top spot after Indian Wells. This was the first match between Federer and Chung since the semi-finals of the Aussie Open when the Swiss was leading 6-1, 5-2 and Chung was forced to retire with a foot blister.

The bespectacled Chung, appearing in his fifth quarter-final in six tournaments this year, dropped to 15-6 on the season. He’s set to surpass Japan’s Kei Nishikori as the top Asian player in the ATP rankings. Federer said he plans to get ready for Coric the same way he prepared for Chung.

Meanwhile, Seven-time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams reached the WTA Indian Wells semi-finals for the first time since 2001 on Thursday by routing Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain 6-3, 6-2.

Despite the windy conditions, Williams improved to 5-2 on the season, which includes a third round win on Monday over sister Serena, who was making her return to the WTA after having a baby. Williams, who at 37 is the oldest player in the women’s draw, has played sparingly this year but is just beginning to step up her game.

She next faces 20-year-old Russian Daria Kasatkina, who cruised to an easy 6-0, 6-2 victory in 58 minutes over the world number 10 Angelique Kerber. She dominated Suarez Navarro, who became increasingly frustrated and had to call her coach a couple of times to come down to the court in between sets for advice. Williams is back in the semis in the California desert for the first time since pulling out before a semi-final match against Serena in 2001, with an injury.