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Reaction from the fifth day at Flushing Meadows, where Roger Federer came through a tricky test against an unheralded Brazilian.

Andy Roddick on celebrating his birthday as the clock struck midnight: "He was definitely outplaying me for the first two sets. I felt like a little kid out here playing against him. Then the clock struck 12 and I started playing like a 26 year old."

Roger Federer on beating an unfamiliar foe in Thiago Alves: "He did well. It was a really difficult match. I'd never heard of him before and that's what sometimes makes it difficult. I haven't had the best year so far... wish I had won the French or Wimbledon but hopefully this will be the big one."

Lindsay Davenport refusing to answer questions as to whether her straight sets, third round loss to Marion Bartoli will be her last competitive tennis match: "I think it's tough to make any kind of decision in a rash moment and there was no decision made before the tournament so I don't think it's time to make a certain statement now."

Alves on who he thinks is the best in the world: "When Federer slips a little bit, he reaches the finals of the Grand Slams every time. He is the biggest player for sure. Nadal is playing good tennis this year but for me, Federer is the best one."

Elena Dementieva on how tough it was to beat Britain's Anne Keothavong: "I think she played really well, especially in the beginning of the match. She really went there, and she's not afraid in hitting the ball pretty hard. It was our first meeting so it took me couple games, you know, just to know her and to find a way to play."

Third seed Svetlana Kuznetsova on her surprising 6-3 6-7 6-3 defeat to Katarina Srebotnik: "She played her top game. I didn't play bad. She just played her best game and I was not at my good level. I was fighting and I wanted so much to win that match. She served very well, she came to the net many times, she was more aggressive than I was."

Second seed Jankovic on making life difficult for herself: "I wish I didn't have any drama in my matches. I wish I would win nice and in a simple way, just cruise through the match and that's it. But sometimes, it's more exciting for the fans and a little more stressful for the people in my box. But as long as you win, that's what matters. I don't think anybody likes to be in this kind of situations. Everybody likes to win 2 and 2, easy, no pressure."

Wimbledon semi-finalist Zheng on pushing Jankovic hard: "Every game was very tough. I am just thinking, next time I try my best. I hope I can win.Maybe I like the grass more because the ball is low and I can hit hard. Then on the hard court the ball sometimes jumps too high for me. But I feel like now my forehand is more aggressive. Before (it was) just my backhand. I just want to (improve) my serve. Maybe then I can keep going."

Na Li who beat Russian Ekaterina Makarova 6-1 4-6 6-2, to set up a meeting with Olympic champion Dementieva: "I started to think, 'oh, maybe today I don't have to play three sets.' Because in the first two rounds I always played three sets. Maybe I played not so fast as I did before. That gave her a chance and she came back for the second set."

Mercurial Russian Marat Safin after his four set loss to Tommy Robredo: "Sometimes you have a good day, sometimes you have a bad day. Today I was struggling. The rain was going on and off and I couldn't get into the game. I missed a few points in the [second set] tiebreak. The third set was very close and the fourth set I lost it completely. It just slipped away and that's it."

Eurosport