Federer cruises on while Halep advances to Miami Open semi-finals

Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates match point against Danill Medvedev of Russia during the Miami Open. (Al Bello/Getty Images/AFP)

Federer is celebrating 20 years at this tournament and edged closer to his fourth title in South Florida as the up and coming Russian Daniil Medvedev was swatted aside 6-4 6-2.

Next up for the 20-time Grand Slam-winning legend is the South African world number seven who famously beat the 37-year-old at Wimbledon in 2018 over five dramatic sets.

That triumph was Anderson's only win over Federer in six attempts - and the only time he's won a set.

But having classily dealt with Medvedev, the former world number one knows it won't be as straightforward with the 6 ft 8 in Anderson at the other end of the Hard Rock Stadium's center court.

"I think if you beat me at Wimbledon, you've got my attention," smiled Federer.

"He's got a great serve and I'm happy he's playing again after his injury.

"So from that standpoint, I know what I'm about to expect tomorrow. The matches I have played against him I know can be extremely close always, just because of his sheer possibilities that he has on the serve.

"I believe that probably the best surface for him is this kind of a type of hard court here in the States where he's spent a lot of his time practicing, as well.

"I've just got to make sure I protect my serve very well and slice maybe sometimes, get into the rallies, and then find a way. So it will be interesting to see how it's going to go."

The key moment against Medvedev came towards the end of the first set, Federer breaking serve for 5-4 - a game which saw him win a 34-stroke rally - before saving three break points on his own serve to seal the first set.

MISSED OPPORTUNITY

The missed opportunity seriously hurt Medvedev who capitulated once he was broken in the first game of the second.

"Holding at the end of the first set was very important but in the second I played well and really went for my shots," added Federer who won 81 per cent of points on his first serve and finished the match on 85 per cent.

Defending champion John Isner, meanwhile, powered his way to the semi-finals as Roberto Bautista Agut, who sent world number one Novak Djokovic crashing out in the previous round, was seen off 7-6 (7-1), 7-6 ,(7-5).

"I was pretty fortunate out there," confessed the American, who smashed down 24 aces compared to the Spaniard's tally of just three and will play the winner of Croatia's Borna Coric and Felix Auger-Aliassime, the 18-year-old from Canada.

In the women's draw, Simona Halep moved closer to reclaiming her world number one crown after a well-executed 6-4 7-5 triumph over China's Wang Qiang.

Romania's Simona Halep advanced to the WTA Miami Open semi-finals by defeating China's Wang Qiang. (AFP/AL BELLO)

Following Petra Kvitova's exit on Tuesday, Halep needs only to reach Saturday's final to knock Naomi Osaka off the top of women's tennis after being deposed following the Japanese's second major win at the Australian Open earlier this year.

Halep's recovery from 1-5 down in the second set showed the kind of mental toughness displayed by only the very best and the Romanian is looking in good shape to land her first Miami title, even if she's not overly consumed about the prospect of reclaiming the number one tag.

"It doesn't mean everything to get back to number one. It's more important to finish the year in that position," said the number two seed, who will face either world number five Karolina Pliskova or Marketa Vondrousova in the last four.

"But if I do it, I will be very proud."