Roger Federer will be looking to insert some dominance into his US Open campaign, but it will be easier said than done with Philipp Kohlschreiber his opponent in the fourth round. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 9am (AEST).
Federer is yet to fully hit his stride at this year’s US Open, although he went some of the way to doing that during the third round.
The performance last time out against Feliciano Lopez seemed to shake off some of the questions surrounding his fitness that clouded over after a loss in Montreal and two five-set matches in the first couple of rounds.
He took on young American Frances Tiafoe in the first round, dropping the second and fourth sets before squandering a break in the final. He should have closed it out a lot more comfortably, but ended up getting there with Taifoe choking on serve to hold on.
The second round saw Federer come out of the gates strongly against Mikhail Youzhny, winning the first set 6-1. He then went off the boil, dropping two sets in a row before fighting hard to win the final two sets 6-4, 6-2.
Following up from those final two sets, he kicked the seeded Feliciano Lopez to the curb in the third round. Whether the higher quality of player brought the best out of Federer is anyone’s guess but the striaght-set win, including a break at the end of the third set was impressive to see.
Kohlschreiber, who was the beneficiary of Andy Murray being ruled out of the tournament through injury. He received a seeding, albeit number 33, and has had a pretty easy draw.
The German, who spent all of his preparation time on clay courts at home in Europe, hasn’t been affected by his alternate preparation at all, winning all of his matches thus far in straight sets.
He took on Tim Smyczek in the first round, before Santiago Giraldo retired against him in the second round. Both of those matches were complete domination on the part of Kohlschreiber, who displayed the form he had coming in after winning a tournament in Kitzbuhel.
Taking on Australian John Millman in the third round, the German struggled to get going early. He was broken in the first set, eventually taking it 7-5 as Millman cracked under pressure, before winning the final two 6-4, 6-2.
The pair have met 12 times previously with Federer winning all of those meetings. They haven’t matched up since 2015 though, with a meeting at the US Open in the same year seeing Federer win in straight sets.
Prediction
Federer should continue to build his form ahead of a likely semi-final match-up with Rafael Nadal on Friday. He may drop a set though – Kohlschreiber is a fighter.
Federer in four sets.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this fourth round match from 9am (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment below.
Scott Pryde
Expert
No worries Wal, That match between Federer and Del Po is going to be a cracker!
Wal
Roar Guru
Cheers for the updates Scott, How can you not love Federer, he looked decidedly old and past it earlier in the tournament. And yet scrapes through and appears to be back to his best all in a week or so.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this morning on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2017 US Open as Roger Federer booked his spot in a 51st grand slam quarter-final with a straight-set win over Philipp Kohlschreiber. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. I expect to be back on Thursday for that Federer vs Del Potro quarter-final, and again on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday Morning (AEST) for all of the semi-finals and finals at the US Open. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
So then, Federer will take on Juan Martin Del Potro on Thursday morning in the quarter-finals. That's set to be a cracker. Then, it could be Federer versus Nadal on Saturday morning in the semi-finals!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the match Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
GAME, SET, MATCH ROGER FEDERER Federer, after 1 hour and 49 minutes, has won it in straight sets and he is through to the quarter-finals at yet another grand slam - this will be his 51st grand slam quarter-final. Finishes it off with another strong serve. There were areas during that match where he struggled to dominate. It was less than easy at times, but he was dominant. Kohlschreiber didn't get so much as a break point during the whole three sets. Roger Federer 6 6 7 Philipp Kohlschreiber 4 2 5
Scott Pryde
Expert
First serve in this time, directed at the body and Kohlschreiber puts the backhand return into the bottom of the net. 2 match points. Federer 6 6 6 - 40 Kohlschreiber 4 2 5 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
A fault from Federer, then Kohlschreiber returns a body serve into the net. He got around it, but not quite enough. Federer 6 6 6 - 30 Kohlschreiber 4 2 5 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Kohlschreiber with a strong forehand, then another but he puts it long. Federer 6 6 6 - 15 Kohlschreiber 4 2 5 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Federer with a wide serve to start this one. Good return and then an uncharacteristic error from the Fed as he swings a backhand wide. Federer 6 6 6 - 0 Kohlschreiber 4 2 5 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
BREAK FEDERER! Too good from Federer. He returns well and Kohlschreiber plays a nice volley. Federer is equal to it though, ripping the passing shot through the court and getting it to land just inside the baseline. There's the break and Federer will now serve for the match. Federer 6 6 6 - Kohlschreiber 4 2 5 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
Federer with a great return of serve here. He defends well from the baseline, then gets to the net. Pretty ordinary volley, but Kohlschreiber misses the passing forehand. 2 break points. Federer 6 6 5 - 40 Kohlschreiber 4 2 5 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Serve down the T from Kohlschreiber and Federer can't return. Federer 6 6 5 - 30 Kohlschreiber 4 2 5 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Kohlschreiber now makes a mistake from behind the baseline, sending a forehand wide. Door open for Federer again. Federer 6 6 5 - 30 Kohlschreiber 4 2 5 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Kohlschreiber with a fault and a long rally breaks out again. A ball sits up nicely for Federer though and he smokes the forehand down the line. Federer 6 6 5 - 15 Kohlschreiber 4 2 5 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
And a wide serve will allow Federer to hold. Kohlschreiber got there, but not well enough to control is back into court. Federer 6 6 5 - Kohlschreiber 4 2 5 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
ACE! Federer 6 6 4 - 40 Kohlschreiber 4 2 5 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Kohlschreiber attacks the serve but sends it wide. Federer 6 6 4 - 30 Kohlschreiber 4 2 5 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Oh my! Federer with a wide serve and that was a great return, but Federer charges onto it and hits the crosscourt runner for the winner. Federer 6 6 4 - 15 Kohlschreiber 4 2 5 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Federer starts this service game with a wide one. The return is chipped back across, but Federer sends a ball wide. Federer 6 6 4 - 0 Kohlschreiber 4 2 5 - 15