The Hindu : Sport : Federer through, Haas outlasts Blake

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Wednesday, Sep 05, 2007
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Sport

Federer through, Haas outlasts Blake

Sania-Bhupathi crash out; Paes-Shaughnessy enter semifinals

NEW YORK: Asked if he realised Roger Federer had won 35 straight points — yes, 35 — on his serve, Feliciano Lopez blinked his green eyes.

“On his serve?” he repeated.

Maybe he was clarifying the stat, maybe he was in disbelief. No matter on Monday night. Federer was off to play Andy Roddick in the quarterfinals at the U.S. Open.

The streak came out of nowhere. The match was tied going into the third set, and Federer was down 0-40. Then, over a span of nine games, he won every point he served.

Think about it: All it would have taken was one strong return by Lopez. One slightly off shot by Federer. One double-fault.

Nothing. Not until it was too late, right as Federer closed out the final game.

Told the remarkable number, Federer was curious — and impressed.

“What are you talking about?” he asked. “That’s awesome.”

“Oh, come on. What have I done?” he said, playfully. “I should have broken him to win 6-3 so I wouldn’t have to serve it out.”

Federer wound up winning 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-4 in the fourth round, rallying after the Spanish left-hander caused him some early trouble.

“I was under a lot of pressure tonight,” Federer said.

Hard to tell, especially when he got rolling. Trying for his fourth straight U.S. Open title, the No. 1-ranked Federer faces No. 5 Andy Roddick.

Past performances

Federer has done pretty well against the 2003 champion and the runner-up last year. To the tune of 13-1, including nine straight wins.

“It’s a great record, but it doesn’t help me,” Federer said. “We’ll see how it goes. Andy’s always tough at the U.S. Open.”

Roddick is the only American left, marking the first U.S. Open since 1998 without at least two in the quarterfinals.

James Blake had a chance to join in, but missed on three match points and lost to No. 10 Tommy Haas 4-6, 6-4, 3-6, 6-0, 7-6(4). Haas will play No. 4 Nikolay Davydenko in the quarterfinals. He eliminated Lee Hyung-taik 6-1, 6-3, 6-4.

Earlier in the tournament, Blake ended his 0-9 slump in five-set tries. His rooting section, the rowdy J-Block, did its best to cheer him on, but the sixth-seeded Blake couldn’t come up with that last, winning shot.

“It’s going to sting for a little while,” he said. “Just another unfortunate learning experience.”

“I was a little indecisive at the end there,” he said. “Did come down to one or two points there. It’s frustrating I didn’t win them this time.”

The crowd was crazed throughout the final set, then fell into virtual silence at the end.

Haas hit a 113 mph (182 kph) ace that Blake challenged, and the players looked at each other as the crowd became quiet with a mix of anticipation and apprehension.

The replay on the scoreboard confirmed the ball was indeed good, and it was over.

“I’m not going to celebrate like crazy right in front of him,” Haas said.

See-saw battle

The scintillating, see-saw match saw some brilliant shot-making.

Haas belted 69 winners, while Blake had 75. The combatants were virtually matched in unforced errors with just 39 for the German and 38 for the American.

“The whole fifth set was very dramatic,” Haas said. “I think we both played unbelievable tennis in the fifth set. I think it was a lot of winners from both sides.”

On the women’s side, No. 18 Shahar Peer beat No. 30 Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 6-1, and No. 6 Anna Chakvetadze stopped Tamira Paszek 6-1, 7-5 to enter the quarterfinals.

Sania Mirza’s campaign came to a halt in the mixed doubles event.

Sania and Mahesh Bhupathi were outplayed 4-6, 1-6 by the Belarussian pair of Victoria Azarenka and Max Mirnyi.

But Leander Paes made sure that the Indian challenge continued in the mixed competition.

Paes and his American team-mate Meghann Shaughnessy beat local favourites Ashley Harkleroad and Justin Gimelstob 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the semifinals.

They will now be up against the British-American pair of Jamie Murray and Liezel Huber, which defeated Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska and Mariusz Fyrstenberg 6-1, 6-2. — Agencies

THE RESULTS

Prefix denotes seeding

Singles: Men: Fourth round: 10-Tommy Haas (Ger) bt 6-James Blake (USA) 4-6, 6-4, 3-6, 6-0, 7-6(4); 4-Nikolay Davydenko (Rus) bt Lee Hyung-taik (Kor) 6-1, 6-3, 6-4; 1-Roger Federer (Sui) bt Feliciano Lopez (Esp) 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-4.

Women: Fourth round: 18-Shahar Peer (Isr) bt 30-Agnieszka Radwanska (Pol) 6-4, 6-1; 6-Anna Chakvetadze (Rus) bt Tamira Paszek (Aut) 6-1, 7-5.

Mixed doubles: Quarterfinals: Meghann Shaughnessy (USA) & Leander Paes (Ind) bt Ashley Harkleroad & Justin Gimelstob (USA) 6-3, 6-4; Victoria Azarenka & Max Mirnyi (Blr) bt Sania Mirza & Mahesh Bhupathi (Ind) 6-4, 6-1.< /em>

Junior singles: Girls: First round: Han Sung-hee (Kor) bt Poojashree Venkatesh (Ind) 6-3, 6-2.

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