Federer beats Anderson, sets up generation clash with Shapovalov

TIL Desk Sports/ Roger Federer gained a measure of revenge against Wimbledon nemesis Kevin Anderson, beating the South African 6-0, 6-4 at the Miami Open on Thursday to set up a mouthwatering semi-final against a player barely half his age.

Federer will have little time to rest his 37-year-old legs before his clash against 19-year-old Denis Shapovalov, the highly regarded Canadian talent tipped for future Grand Slam success. Twentieth seed Shapovalov won his battle of ‘Next Gen’ hustlers 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-2 against American Frances Tiafoe.

Shapovalov is one of two Canadian teenagers in the semis, with 18-year-old Felix Auger-Aliassime to play defending champion John Isner in the other. Federer has won 100 career titles, 100 more than Shapovalov, and was looking forward to the pair’s first match-up. “He’s one of the big shotmakers in the game. I love his forehand,” Federer said.