Roger Federer advances to US Open quarters
Roger Federer defeated Jurgen Melzer 6-3 7-6 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals of the 2010 US Open where he will meet Robin Soderling.
Federer got some help from the net in the second-set tiebreaker, twice hitting balls that hit the tape and trickled over to end points.
"I know I got really lucky," Federer said. "Maybe I would have won the tie-breaker anyhow. That's the way it goes. I could see he had big frustration over the two net cords. It was a good 10 minutes for me."
“Obviously, the tiebreakers are always crucial,” Federer said. “It was a tough match today, breezy. He’s a tough opponent and a close friend of mine so it was never going to be easy. I’m really relieved and happy to get through.”
“It’s a pity that I didn’t win at least one set. I think I deserved the second set. I think I was the more dangerous player,” said Melzer. “You couldn’t be more lucky in a tiebreaker than was in this tiebreaker.”
Melzer broke serve to open the third set but Federer broke right back to 1-1, then again to go ahead 4-2 and then saved three break points to hold for a 5-2 edge and held again to win the match.
“Haven’t lost a set, so obviously, I’m very happy,” Federer said. “It doesn’t matter too much how you play, really. I’d love to play wonderful every time I come on the court. Guys make it tough. They play and make it the way you don’t want it to be.”
"He's a great shotmaker. He was always going to hit some good stuff," said Federer about Melzer. "He was going to come up with some good returns that caught me on my back foot."
At the net after the match, Federer apologized to Melzer.
"He was sorry for the second-set tie-breaker," Melzer said.
About playing Robin Soderling, who beat Albert Montañes 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-3, again in the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam, Federer commented:
“He’s always been a dangerous player but these days he’s been able to do it consistently, at the highest level. So this is a tough draw for me, playing him in the quarters.”
Source Reuters/AFP/AP
Photo Getty Images
