The world’s best player, the two-time defending U.S. Open champion, arguably the greatest ever to hold a racket, played his fourth-round match yesterday in the afternoon at the smaller Armstrong Stadium, which was three-fourths full at most.
Federer has yet to play a night match during his effortless run to a third straight Open title.
Now Federer will get the night and more.
Federer gets fan favorite and Yonkers native James Blake in tonight’s quarterfinal showdown before what should be a frenzied atmosphere at Ashe Stadium.
Federer and Blake each posted emphatic straight-set victories yesterday, with Blake pummeling Czech Republic’s Tomas Berdych, 6-4, 6-3, 6-1 at Ashe Stadium in a tidy one hour, 37 minutes and Federer taking out 72nd ranked Marc Gicquet 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 on the smaller Armstrong.
In a jesting remark, Blake told the crowd after his match, “Who’s this guy I’m playing? He’s been playing on Armstrong now. I don’t think he’s getting much respect. Obviously I’m kidding.”
After the match, Blake pulled on a Carlos Beltran Mets’ jersey before leaving the court. “There’s quite a bit of energy in New York this week, with the Mets playing well and me and Andy [Roddick] playing well,” Blake said. “I’m having a ball.”
With Blake’s “J-Block” rooting section chanting “Break Time” at 4-4 in the first set, Blake did just that and was on his way. Blake didn’t lose his serve all match, fighting off 16 break points.
“I feel like I’m hurting guys with my returns,” Blake said. “Hopefully I’ll be able to do the same against Roger. In minds of most fans and journalists I was a favorite in every match and I don’t have that pressure. Now it will be fun to be the underdog and have the fans even more on my side. If I play my best I can’t see why I can’t win. But if he’s playing his best, I can see it.”
A load has been lifted off Federer with rival Rafael Nadal’s stunning four-set loss to Mikhail Youzhny. Perhaps Federer knew something as he went to the interview room and kept glancing at the TV showing the first set of the Nadal’s match.
“I am, of course [looking forward to it],” said Federer about Blake. “I haven’t had an Arthur Ashe night session yet, so I would love to get that one. I think I’m getting [the night] for sure.”
Federer has beaten Blake in all four meetings and hasn’t dropped a set. The Swiss maestro once played Blake at night in the 2003 Open, beating him in straight sets. But Blake is now the fifth seed, with more fans and experience in big matches.
As opposed to the canyon of Ashe, it’s a treat to see the great Federer on a smaller court to fully appreciate his elegant strokes. With the star-studded card caused by Tuesday’s rainout, the USTA shifted Federer to the downsized court.
“I enjoy it, it used to be center court after all,” Federer said. “It’s not like this court is dirt. It’s a great court with a great atmosphere. I had some great matches there early in my career.”
Federer was mildly tested, relatively speaking, in that he needed a tiebreaker in the second set, winning it 7-2. He even had to fend off five break points, all successfully.
