Federer to face Wawrinka in quarter-finals at rain-hit Cincinnati

Roger Federer wasted no time in defeating Leonardo Mayer 6-1, 7-6 (8/6) as the rain-plagued ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters made up ground after two days of disruption.

Only hours after his comprehensive third-round win, the second-seeded seven-time champion was to face a quarter-final against compatriot Stan Wawrinka, who beat Hungarian Marton Fucsovics 6-4, 6-3 in another rain-delayed third-round clash.

It will mark the first time since Gstaad in 2004 that Federer has played two matches on the same day.

With cloudy skies a constant weather threat, Federer raced through the opening set in 23 minutes but found the pace slowing in the second as Mayer began to make a match of it.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion, who turned 37 last week, needed a tiebreaker to close it out, taking a 5-1 lead in the decider before firing a ninth ace to seal victory after 72 minutes "I haven't played two on the same day for a long time," Federer said. "But I'm pleased to be playing Stan again."
"It was difficult to find any rhythm today. We were both in trouble during the match. I'm happy to go through and tonight I have another match."