6 November 2009 / AP, BASEL
Three-time defending champion Roger Federer cruised into the Swiss Indoors quarterfinals by beating Andreas Seppi of Italy 6-3, 6-3 on Wednesday. Federer served solidly to make it six matches against the 51st-ranked Seppi without dropping a set.
“It was a bit tougher [than the first round], but I was able to raise my game at a few crucial moments and that was the difference,” said Federer, who rested through October. Fifth-seeded Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic missed all 16 break points but still beat lucky loser Florent Serra of France 3-6, 7-6 (1), 7-6 (1) to advance. In the first round, fourth-seeded Marin Cilic beat Philipp Petzschner of Germany 6-4, 6-4 to keep alive his chances of qualifying for the ATP Tour finals in London. The Croat, a wild-card entry, likely needs to win the Swiss Indoors and do well at the Paris Masters next week to make the eight-player lineup at London.
