Roger Federer bows out to Tomas Berdych in quarters of US Open – Tennis Special
World number one, Roger Federer, was edged out by the sixth seed, Tomas Berdych, in a four-set thriller at the Flushing Meadows on Wednesday. He suffered a 6-7(1), 4-6, 6-3, 3-6 shock in the final eight at this final of the four Grand Slam events taking
place in Queens in New York City, United States.
Seeded top at this major hard court event, Federer failed to find his rhythm. Regardless of rebounding in the third set, he was under played in the following set and ultimately lost for the first time in a night session at the USTA Billie Jean King National
Tennis Center. As a result, Berdych lowered trail in the FedEx ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) Head 2 Head Series by 5-11 against the Swiss star.
"I'm disappointed. I really expect myself to play better tonight, especially at night I have had such a great record," Federer reflected in a post match press conference. "I felt good. Such an amazing summer I had. I really thought I was going to come out
and play a solid match. I didn't do that tonight. Obviously there is a bit of a letdown now."
In the opening set, both tennis stars displayed their best tennis at the Arthur Ashe Stadium. Federer drew the first blood in the opening game and jumped to a 2-0 lead. Despite losing his edge in the sixth game, the Swiss stayed calm and dragged the set
to a tie-breaker. However, he managed to score a single point in it and ultimately endured a 6-7(1) loss.
The Czech number one maintained consistency in his game in the following set and got the critical break in the opening game to take the initial lead. He broke Federer’s serve again and leaped to a 5-2 lead. In spite of squandering his chance of serving out
the set, Berdych plucked his serve once more and clinched the set with a 6-4 score line.
The Swiss Maestro re-focused into the third set regardless of losing his opening serve. After trailing at 1-3, Federer unleashed his true colours and reeled off five games in a row. He brushed off one out of two breakpoints he came across and capitalised
in both break chances to register a 6-3 success.
Ranked seventh in the world, Berdych re-gained his strength again in the fourth set. He smoothly bagged his entire serves without facing any barrier and cashed in the lone break chance in the eighth game to click the set with a 6-3 win.
On the whole, the 17-time Grand Slam champion displayed dismal performance. He struck 44 winners but spilled 40 unforced errors to Berdych’s 21 which made the difference.
Next in line for Berdych is the Olympic gold medallist, Andy Murray from Great Britain. Murray lost the opening set but made a fitting reply after that. He notched up a 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-2, 6-0 victory against the 12th seed, Marin Cilic of Croatia.
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