Roger Federer puts on nearly perfect performance to reach his 65th semi at Masters 1000 in Miami

Roger Federer might make a mistake later this week at the Miami Open presented by Itau, but he hardly did on Thursday night against Kevin Anderson.

The three-time Miami champion had everything on full display during his 6-0, 6-4 rout against the sixth seed and looks like the man to beat heading into the final weekend of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament.

Federer brought the cheeky net skills, the crafty slices from side to side and the attacking mindset, and it was all far too much for Anderson, who couldn't replicate his 2018 Wimbledon comeback and fell to 1-6 in his FedEx ATP Head2Head series against the 27-time Masters 1000 champion.

The 37-year-old Federer moved into his seventh Miami semi-final and 65th final four at a Masters 1000 event. Next, instead of an experienced veteran like the 32-year-old Anderson, he'll meet someone who spent his childhood watching the Swiss in 19-year-old Denis Shapovalov.

The Canadian came back from a set down for the third time this tournament to win a #NextGenATP battle against beat 21-year-old American Frances Tiafoe 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-2. Both players have competed at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan. The semi-final will be the first FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting between Shapovalov and Federer.

It was an ominous start for Anderson, who served first. The South African looked unnerved and overhit a backhand long to hand Federer the break.

Coming into the quarter-final, he had been broken only three times (34/37) against Spain's Jaume Munar, Portugal's No. 1 Joao Sousa and Jordan Thompson of Australia. But Federer would break Anderson that many times in the opening set alone.

Federer landed only 38 per cent of his first serves, but he defended his second serve without problems. Anderson recovered from the 26-minute opening set and the 0-6, 0-2 deficit, breaking Federer to get back on serve at 3-3 in the second.

But the pressure mounted once more at 4-4, and, after a marathon 14-minute game, Federer showed off his craftiness once more. The Swiss cut a slice return to Anderson's forehand wing that he lunged for and hit, but missed wide, and Federer had his fifth and final break.

Did You Know?

Federer is currently third (27) on the all-time Masters 1000 title leaderboard, behind Novak Djokovic(32) and Rafael Nadal (33).

atptour.com

I'm really excited for this next match. 

I'm sure it'll either go one of 2 ways. 

Total blowout, or half blow out half competitive. 

I'm hoping for the latter. I can't wait to see The Master teach the student.