Federer three wins from 100th title

PARIS, France – Roger Federer defeated Italy’s Fabio Fognini 6-4, 6-3 to reach the Paris Masters quarterfinals on Thursday, November 1, as the Swiss great moved 3 wins away from his 100th career title.

Federer, 37, who captured his 99th trophy on home ground in Basel last week, will face Japan’s Kei Nishikori on Friday for a place in the semifinals in the French capital.

Third seed Federer is playing the Paris Masters for the first time since 2015 and is bidding to clinch the tournament for just the second time after winning it in 2011. 

“I think both of us were far from our best, but we fought with what we had and at the end I think I maybe served a bit better in the important moments than Fabio did,” said Federer, who was playing his first match of the week after second-round opponent Milos Raonic withdrew on Wednesday.

“I didn’t come here to win Paris, actually. My objective is London,” said Federer as he looked beyond the French capital to the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals which start on November 11.

Nishikori, seeded 10, made the quarterfinals by beating Kevin Anderson 6-4, 6-4 to avenge his defeat to the big South African in Sunday’s Vienna final.

Federer leads Nishikori 6-2 in career meetings having won their last four clashes.

The Japanese’s last win over the 20-time major winner came in 2014. – Rappler.com