The biggest name in the game headlines a cast of familiar faces in the US Open quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows. Roger Federer buried Tommy Robredo for the ninth time in as many meetings on Monday but said he cared little about closing in on his 22nd successive grand slam semi-final.

“It’s not something I aim for. I’m aiming for bigger, to be quite honest,” the world No.1 warned his rivals after dispatching the Spaniard 7-5 6-2 6-2 in less than two hours.

“I’m trying to defend the title here, not just to reach another semi so my streak stays alive.

“I’ve got to look at the bigger picture.”

Federer will take centre stage again on Thursday with rising star Robin Soderling in the third episode of their 2009 grand slam trilogy.

But, having played a bit-part role as Federer finally completed his career set of major titles in their one-sided French Open final and then also losing in three sets in their fourth-round Wimbledon encounter, even Soderling is growing tired of the Swiss master’s off-court graciousness.

“It’s a tough challenge. I hope I can play well because it’s always kind of close with him. He’s a tough player. He’s always been a dangerous player,” Federer claimed.

So dangerous that the big-hitting Swede has lost all 11 matches to Federer, winning one measly set – in a tiebreaker – back in 2005.

Federer is fooling no-one.

“To me, he’s the best player off all-time,” Soderling said. “He beat me a lot of times.”
Still, nobody gave Soderling any hope of ending Rafael Nadal’s 31-match winning streak at Roland Garros either.

Maybe lightning does strike twice, and the 12th seed can snap the five-time defending champion’s 39-match sequence at the Open.

“If I can play well, hopefully I have a small chance,” Soderling said after advancing to the last eight when eighth-seeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko retired with a thigh strain while trailing 7-5 3-6 6-2.

Another Federer victory would set up a semi-final against either fourth seed Novak Djokovic or 10th seed Fernando Verdasco as the 15-time major champion continues his quest to become the first man since Bill Tilden in 1925 to snare six consecutive US crowns.

Djokovic, who succumbed to Federer in the 2007 title match in New York before turning the tables in the 2008 Australian Open semi-finals en route to his first and only grand slam triumph, powered past Radek Stepanek 6-1 6-3 6-3 in precisely the same hour and 46 minutes it took Federer to progress.

Djokovic had enough energy after his tour-best 59th win of the season to take on John McEnroe, who delighted the Arthur Ashe Stadium evening crowd when he raced from his commentary booth for a mock game with the relaxed Serb.

“It was a lot of fun,” Djokovic said before focusing on the serious business of seeing off Verdasco.

“He has been playing maybe the tennis of his life this year. He’s gained a lot of strength. He feels confident on the court. He improved his game a lot.

“So it’s not going to be easy, absolutely not. But I believe I can get through it.”

Verdasco ended US interest in the men’s singles when he eliminated big John Isner 4-6 6-4 6-4 6-4, leaving America without a player in the quarter-finals at the Open for the first time in the 41-year professional era.

“Sorry to beat the last one,” the popular Australian Open semi-finalist told spectators at Louis Armstrong Stadium.

“You can support me if you want.”

Fellow heavyweights Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Juan Martin Del Potro were hoping to join Federer, Djokovic and co in the quarter-finals when they played their fourth-round matches on Tuesday.

A look at Monday’s play at the US Open tennis championships:
WEATHER: Partly sunny and cool. High of 22.
ATTENDANCE: Day: 37,388. Night: 23,771. Total: 61,159.
MEN’S WINNERS: Fourth Round: No.1 Roger Federer, No.4 Novak Djokovic, No.10 Fernando Verdasco and No.12 Robin Soderling.
MEN’S LOSERS: No.8 Nikolay Davydenko, No.14 Tommy Robredo, No.15 Radek Stepanek and John Isner.
WOMEN’S WINNERS: Fourth Round: No.9 Caroline Wozniacki, Kateryna Bondarenko, Melanie Oudin and Yanina Wickmayer.
WOMEN’S LOSERS: No.6 Svetlana Kuznetsova, No.13 Nadia Petrova, Gisela Dulko and Petra Kvitova.
TOP PLAYERS ON COURT ON TUESDAY: Men: No.2 Andy Murray vs. No.16 Marin Cilic, No.3 Rafael Nadal vs. No.13 Gael Monfils, No.6 Juan Martin del Potro vs. No.24 Juan Carlos Ferrero, No.7 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs. No.11 Fernando Gonzalez. Women: No.2 Serena Williams vs. No.10 Flavia Pennetta, No.18 Li Na vs. Kim Clijsters.
STAT OF THE DAY: For the first time in the Open era, no American man has advanced to the quarter-finals.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “There are no tears because I believed that I could do it. And it’s like now I know that I do belong here. This is what I want to do, and I can compete with these girls no matter who I’m playing. I have a chance against anyone.” – Melanie Oudin
ON THIS DATE: Sept. 8, 1999: Richard Krajicek sets the US Open record with 49 aces, yet loses his quarter-final match to Yevgeny Kafelnikov in five sets.

© AAP 2012

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