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INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Instead of going into a funk after failing to defend his title at the Australian Open, Roger Federer has responded by going on a roll.
At tournaments in Dubai and Indian Wells, Calif., he has won nine straight matches and 15 straight sets, and he looked thoroughly in his element again in the sunshine on Friday afternoon, defeating the unseeded and little known Hubert Hurkacz, 6-4, 6-4, in the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open.
Federer’s next opponent will be quite a bit more familiar: Rafael Nadal, who defeated Karen Khachanov, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (2), in the day’s second quarterfinal despite pain in his right knee.