US Open - Unconvincing Federer into semis

Eurosport - Fri, 05 Sep 16:13:00 2008

Four-times champion Roger Federer weathered a tough battle against Luxembourg qualifier Gilles Muller to book his place in the US Open semi-final with a 7-6 6-4 7-6 win.

TENNIS 2008 US Open Roger Federer - 0

The second-seeded Swiss was tested to the full on a sweltering, breezy afternoon in New York by a player ranked 130th in the world before sealing victory in two hours 26 minutes.

Seeking his fifth consecutive US Open title but his first Grand Slam crown of the year, Federer edged marathon man Muller 7-5 in the third-set tiebreak to win his 32nd consecutive match at Flushing Meadows.

"I'm happy I won, first of all," a relieved Federer said after reaching a record 18th consecutive Grand Slam semi-final. "After a tough match I had last time, it's nice to get through (in) straight (sets).

"This was a tough opponent who has been playing very well in this tournament and he showed why he was so dangerous today.

"He served great, takes big chances from the baseline and there wasn't a whole lot of rhythm out there," added the Swiss, who scraped past Russian Igor Andreev in five sets in the fourth round.

"It made it more difficult with the wind and the sun. I'm very happy with this result."

Federer's opponent in the last four will be Serb Novak Djokovic, who he beat in last year's final but lost to in the semi-finals of the Australian Open earlier this season.

The opening set went with serve until the 12th game when Federer piled on the pressure and appeared likely to break his big-serving opponent. However Muller, trailing 5-6, did well to save five set points before holding for 6-all.

Federer, deposed as world number one two weeks ago by Spaniard Rafael Nadal, raced into a 4-1 lead in the tiebreak but was pegged back to 4-4 before again pulling ahead.

The crowd gave both players a standing ovation after a breathtaking rally of aggressive shot-making finally ended with Federer winning the point to go 6-4 up. The Swiss clinched the first set at the seventh attempt.

Federer broke Muller in the ninth game of the second, working his opponent around the court before ripping a passing shot down the line to lead 5-4. He comfortably held serve to wrap up the second set.

The third set was also tight, each game going with serve to force another tiebreak which Federer won 7-5 when left-hander Muller netted a backhand.

Muller, who twice had to fight back from two sets down to book his place in a Grand Slam quarter-final for the first time, had bitter-sweet feelings over his defeat.

"The most amazing thing is that this is the first time in my career I'm actually winning a lot of matches," said the 25-year-old, who had been on court for four more hours than Federer before their contest.

"Before I used to win one big match and lost the next one because I lost focus and I was getting all fired up in my head because I won that (one) match.

"But now I'm just staying calm," added Muller, who upset then-world number three Roddick in the first round of the 2005 US Open.

"Even today I guess a lot of people think I should be happy but actually I'm disappointed because today I had my chances, and I didn't take them."

Muller unleashed 16 aces and struck 46 winners, four more than Federer, but also piled up 32 unforced errors on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court.

Reuters

Comment 79 - 98 of 98

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. hope nadal n fed will contest the cup!!hope people wont talk negative comment on tis 2 great players..n ther wil b peace....thks..

    From nthk8, on Sat 6 Sep 4:30PM

  2. unconvincing is nadal if you ask me ! Fed is just adapting for the final and tryes new tactics as well as new better shots etc. Everyone knows Fed game is simple and astonishing. let's see nadal in 5-6 years , I do not think he will stand like this at level now he is. Yes I admit he plays well recently even amazing but how long.... a year, two , that's it. While fed will play 4-5 year more and will be the same shape and structure. have you ever seen him injured or s/th like that ?

    From dimitar_arn, on Sat 6 Sep 11:10AM

  3. Wish to see THE Roger again....

    From Pilot, on Sat 6 Sep 6:55AM

  4. hi this is fedex fan as an ardent fan of fed i want him to win the slam which seems convincing unless one man gets out of the way . I hope everyone understood the man let me wish him a good luck.

    From arun_ece1987, on Sat 6 Sep 3:42AM

  5. gggggooooooo roger gggggooooooo

    From , on Fri 5 Sep 9:39PM

  6. To Richy,or however you call your self,coment 30,YES...Nadal is the N1 since 20 days ago.And YES,he deserves it,i dont denay it.But it seems you didnt understand what i was talking about in my coment (24).Read it again,i am talking about the people that write silly coments about the greatest tennis player so far in history(Federer),not denaying the great performance of Nadal this year.And about the illnes of Federer,seems you dont catch it..because THAT kind of illnes doesnt go in a couple of days,it follows you for months or maybe more ,afecting not only your body..its not a flue !!(sory i'm not sure if i wrote it well).Try to ask yourself...you got that illnes,you are N1 at that time..have 2 choises: 1st to avandon tennis for a few months to try to get at 100% well,that means not only loosing 1st place in the world,means loosing many more...2nd choice:prepare your self at almost no time after illnes and try to get the best of it in the next grand slam..WHAT WOULD YOU CHOOSE IF YOU WERE FEDERER Richy...???Do you know how bad can turn your psycological strength when you see that an illnes is stoping you to play the REAL tennis that you can give in a court??And still Federer manage to go almost to every final grand slam this year..that is what makes me feal great respect about Federer.All in all...once more...i am NOT argueing Nadal great performance this year,or Djokovic too..dont misanderstand me pls.I am sad that people started to talk nonses about a reall champion,a magestik player.Nothing more than that.
    Be well all of u.

    From blimberb, on Fri 5 Sep 7:15PM

  7. com90..who is BB?? boris becker u mean?

    From nthk8, on Fri 5 Sep 6:41PM

  8. GO GO GO ROGER KICK DJOKOVIC BUTT. WE WANT TO SEE YOU PLAY RAFA NADAL IN THE FINAL TO GET SOME REVENGE. ALL THE VERY BEST TO YOU ROGER YOU WILL BE NUMBER ONE AGAIN SOON.
    ALISON MERRITT

    From AJ, on Fri 5 Sep 6:27PM

  9. §§§§§§§§§§§ to q 90 -------- do sign up a competent secretary to edit & publish your text 2B understood

    From controlclimate, on Fri 5 Sep 6:00PM

  10. R FED (Rex Federer) a true king and legend of tennis. Win your 13th. The King is not dead, long live the King. It is only a matter of time before he surpasses Pete's record (another great Champion). I am an old git and I still remember the great champions, Newcome, Emerson, Smith, Ashe, Connors, Cash, McEnroe, and many more going back to the late 50's. In my tennis lifetime there have only been 2 legends of tennis and I am glad to have been a witness to their achievments and had the priveldge to watch them, BORG, and FEDERER. RF and BB perhaps exemplify the true character of the genuine Tennis Champion. It is a difficult decision and choice to make as to who is the best. Borg has long gone but is remembered and revered by all true fans. Federer is just sublime and faultless in all respects. Cool, calm, good natured, well dressed and mannered and with out doubt the best envoy and representative the Tennis world has had for many many years. LONG LIVE THE KING.

    From qs2.limited@..., on Fri 5 Sep 5:45PM

  11. More congrats for Muller from a Fed fan. Besides his earlier victories over Nadal and recently Roddick, he's had the most aces in Flushing Meadows. A weak player? Still, the best players have made it to the semis. Let's hope they'll improve and won't get worn out by the final.

    From Simon, on Fri 5 Sep 5:42PM

  12. fed is the best,nadal can b put to rest.

    From nthk8, on Fri 5 Sep 5:17PM

  13. go roger go!!

    From nthk8, on Fri 5 Sep 5:11PM

  14. com84..act like u knw tennis.don waste space

    From nthk8, on Fri 5 Sep 5:08PM

  15. Catalina...what if we are not? ;))
    by the way, i support Rafa and respect Roger. They both are strong examples for the other tennis players.
    An wonderful evening to you.
    Seara buna tuturor romanilor care posteaza aici, indiferent care le este favoritul acestui sport.

    From Pitic, on Fri 5 Sep 3:50PM

  16. Thanks for post 62 Jay. I caught only the tail end so didn't get a real take on the match. Seems that Fed finally started to cut down on the unforced errors. Your post the other day about how Fed used to let the rallies mature before pulling the trigger coincides with my opinion. Hopefully we'll see him getting back to that and his best tennis. Think some people make the mistake of just assuming that Muller is a "bad" player because he's ranked outside the top 100. He's beaten some excellent players here and has career victories over Nadal and Roddick. Congrats to him on a great tournament. Looking forward to the remaining 3 matches. CHEERS

    From rhymes450, on Fri 5 Sep 3:31PM

  17. i appreciate it Pitic...hope we support the same player ;)

    From Catalina, on Fri 5 Sep 3:31PM

  18. 2007 - AO, W, USO, TMC... do you think what has changed?? that the other players learned how to beat him in less than a year.? ahahahhahah he´s too old?- he wasn´t 9 months ago...maybe he has alzheimer...ohh @#$% i forgot...he is faking mono and has to keep doing it so no one thinks he´s faking... please people, you dont lose your game in less than a year, Federer is not old, and other players are not catching up(only nadal), so please stop saying he´s finished

    From scourge_werepire, on Fri 5 Sep 3:09PM

  19. 79 phet--- seems to have forgotten his junior schooling --------NADAL & Federrer are still No 1 & 2

    no-one in sight ------ to amend that arrangement at present---- we - love - them BOTH

    From controlclimate, on Fri 5 Sep 2:52PM

  20. Right,Catalina. Looks like some people around just love to get mad and to be...offtopic sometimes. Well, some people don't. Good to have you around :)

    From Pitic, on Fri 5 Sep 2:39PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account