By Greg Heakes
Four-time defending champion Roger Federer and 2007 runner-up Novak Djokovic survived five-set scares from stubborn fourth-round opponents on Tuesday at the US Open.
Federer, whose 12 Grand Slam titles are two shy of Pete Sampras's all-time record, extended his US Open win streak to 31 matches by beating Russian Igor Andreev 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
An ailing Djokovic had to dig equally deep while playing through a sore right hip to defeat Spain's Tommy Robredo 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3.
"Novak got a tough one too," Federer said. "You always wish for three sets but honestly those five-setters are fun."
Continues Below ↓
Federer advanced to the quarterfinals where he will play Luxembourg qualifier Gilles Muller.
The other quarterfinal in that half of the draw features Djokovic against American eighth seed Andy Roddick, who breezed past Chile's Fernando Gonzalez in Tuesday's late match 6-2, 6-4, 6-1.
Federer said he's not worried about facing an underdog on a roll in the next round.
"It is just a guy who has got even less to lose," Federer said of Muller. "It has been like this for the past 4 1/2 years."
Federer, trying to salvage a sub-par season after years of Slam domination, hadn't dropped a set in his first three matches, but Andreev made him work for the victory.
It is rare to see Federer in a five-set match at the US Open but this hasn't been a normal season for the former world number one. Close matches makes life more interesting and gets the competitive juices flowing, he said.
"I don't remember ever playing an entire five-set match on centre court here," said Federer, who has actually played three five-setters at the Open. "I was always winning easily. It is different and fun to be in a dog fight."
Federer had trouble getting untracked in the first set.
Continues...
|
StumbleUpon
Reddit
Digg
Delicious
Newsvine
Facebook
muti
Twitter
