US Open Roger Federer advances, Djokovic has narrow escape
It was business as usual for Roger Federer as he battled windy conditions before defeating Andreas Beck 6-3 6-4 6-3. Federer’s prize for his proficient win will be a place in the US Open third round. The five-time champion was in imperious form as he ran out to a 5-0 lead before closing out the first set 6-3. The World number 104, Beck was an able battler but he was unable to keep up with Federer as the World number 2 showed some signs of returning to his best form. He closed out the second set at 6-4 and proceeded to take the game by the throat by closing it at 6-3.
Federer attributed the win as the perfect start. He said that having two days off after Monday did him a world of good, that he had an easier time physically, and was feeling himself into the tournament. The 29-year old Swiss said that despite the ease with which he won, he was not going to underestimate anyone and that he will be battling hard against whoever comes up next. With a stellar record at Flushing Meadows, Federer now has 42 wins in his last 42 games and with Andy Roddick and Lleyton Hewitt both out of the reckoning that leaves the Swiss maestro as the only former winner of the US Open in the men’s field. The 16-time Grand Slam Champion will now have to face the Frenchman, Paul-Henri Mathieu, who overcame his battle against compatriot, Guillaume Rufin 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 6-3, after a relatively easy encounter.
Despite Federer coasting through, there were some seeded casualties at the US Open, as Maran Cilic, who was the 11th seed here, lost in five sets to Japanese qualifier, Kei Nishikori. Cilic’s battle against the Japanese was the longest match of the week and did not end on happy terms for him either. He had only last year reached his first Grand Slam quarter-final but was unable to replicate his form. Cilic started the game strongly enough winning the first set after a tense battle. However, he was unable to reproduce his best form in the tie breakers as he lost two of them on his way to be being beaten by the Japanese qualifier. Nishikori eventually won 5-7 7-6 (8-6) 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-1. The Japanese 20-year old said that the game was very draining and that despite feeling the cramps he kept fighting and was feeling great before his next game. Nishikori’s next opponent will be Spanish 21st seed, Albert Montanes, who defeated Australian wildcard, Carsten Ball 6-4 6-3 6-1.
Meanwhile, Richard Gasquet dashed the hopes of sixth seed Nikolay Davydenko. The Russian, who has been a 2006 and 2007 US Open semi-finalist, losing both to Federer, was unable to replicate his form of previous years. Gasquet breezed past him in a simple 6-3 6-4 6-2 win. The 38th ranked Gasquet has been recovering from injury and this win will give him plenty of confidence going into the next round. Gasquet’s victory came in one hour 53 minutes and he will next face South Africa’s, Kevin Anderson, who overcame Brazilian 26th seed, Thomaz Bellucci, after a mammoth 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 5-7 6-4 7-6 (7-2) victory.
Third seed Novak Djokovic was lucky to escape unscathed from his battle against German, Philipp Petzschner, 7-5 6-3 7-6 (8-6). Djokovic admitted to being shaky throughout the game but said that he was relieved to have come through such an important test. He admitted to being lucky but said that he would need to conserve energy ahead of much important fixtures ahead.
5th seed, Robin Soderling had fewer problems as he dispatched American, Taylor Dent in just 92 minutes 6-2 6-2 6-4. Meanwhile, Austrian Jurgen Melzer, the 13th seed, battled to a 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 1-6 7-5 win over Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania.
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