17-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer is still in the running to qualify for the ATP World Tour semifinals after winning his match against Richard Gasquet of France at their round robin match on Thursday.
This marks the 43rd-match win for the Swiss star after he beat eighth-seed Gasquet 6-4, 6-3 on Thursday. Federer is now 1-1 in Group B standings.
“Richard does a good job of making you feel uncomfortable at the same time as well, because he uses heights [and] spins really well,” said Federer. “He likes extended rallies. I’m trying to force the issue. But I guess those are the kind of matches I need right now – straight sets against a good player.”
Federer will next face Juan Martin Del Potro on Saturday which will determine who will secure the second and last semifinal berth for Group B. Novak Djokovic already secured the first semifinal slot after winning his match against Del Potro.
“Comparing the 2013 ATP World Tour season to previous trophy-laden campaigns,” Federer admitted, “I needed the hard fought wins back then to go on and win the tournament. Now I feel like the hard fought wins are there to get me back to a really good level, a very competitive level.
“I’m not coming back from a serious injury, but I’m coming back from a lot of sort of ups and downs, resetting things, trying out things, making sure I get my confidence back, my movement and so forth. So it’s a totally different situation.”
Though disappointed, Gasquet said that he’s still happy to have competed in London.
“I think I tried to play more aggressive. Sometimes he did it. Sometimes I did it. But I need to play better and more aggressive to win these matches especially indoors.”
