Sports
'I feel quite warmed up now,' jokes Federer after the match.
Updated : Sep 01, 2017, 08:56 AM IST
World number three Roger Federer survived his second scare in as many matches but hung on to defeat Russian Mikhail Youzhny 6-1 6-7(3) 4-6 6-4 6-2 to reach the third round of the U.S. Open on Thursday.
Federer, who also claimed a come-from-behind five-set victory in his first round match against 19-year-old Frances Tiafoe, took advantage of a clearly hobbled Youzhny, who appeared to suffer from muscle cramps midway throughout.
Despite looking at times like he might retire from the match, Youzhny put in his best performance against the Swiss. But the former top 10 player's fate was all but sealed when he double faulted to hand the Swiss a 4-2 lead in the fifth set and later saw Federer's record against him improve to 17-0.
The match marked the first time the 36-year-old third seed had ever started a grand slam tournament with back-to-back five set matches, raising questions about whether he has the stamina necessary to win his 20th career grand slam.
"These five set battles are actually a lot of fun," Federer said during an on court interview after the match. "I feel quite warmed up now," he added with a laugh.
Despite the win Federer looked nothing like the dominant player who won the Australian Open to kick off the year and later cruised through Wimbledon without dropping a set. He committed 68 unforced errors and the back injury that kept him out of the Cincinnati Masters earlier this month appeared to limit his mobility.
Next up for Federer is Feliciano Lopez, who defeated fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in four sets in their second round match. Federer has defeated Lopez in all 12 of their previous meetings.
Mikhail Youzhny has his work cut out for him.@rogerfederer leads 5-0 after just 14 minutes.https://t.co/zBI9pRNhSr pic.twitter.com/FYneXAlAEF
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2017
Does @rogerfederer have early dinner plans? He's playing like it.
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2017
He takes the first set over Youzhny 6-1.https://t.co/zBI9pRNhSr #USOpen pic.twitter.com/8USUZZ02Tq
When you're up 5-0 so you decide to hit a drop shot return winner...@rogerfederer #USOpen pic.twitter.com/zUmOrfwDXg
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2017
Replay: When @rogerfederer takes the first set 6-1 #USOpen @chase pic.twitter.com/lqveb0UMST
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2017
The last time @rogerfederer lost before the third round of the #USOpen was...
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2017
Never.
https://t.co/zBI9pRNhSr #USOpen pic.twitter.com/ET8AfmEdbK
Talk about a turnaround!
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2017
Mikhail Youzhny takes the second set over Federer 7-6!https://t.co/zBI9pRNhSr #USOpen pic.twitter.com/3fKOGeangB
Will Federer need another 5-setter on Ashe to advance?
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2017
Mikhail Youzhny breaks to lead 3-2 in the 3rd set!https://t.co/zBI9pRNhSr #USOpen pic.twitter.com/Qsz0wx0SC3
Down but not out, @rogerfederer saves 2 set points for a crucial hold.
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2017
Youzhny leads 5-4 in the third set.https://t.co/zBI9pRNhSr #USOpen pic.twitter.com/32ujPU3SYt
Big second set win for Mikhail Youzhny vs Federer 7-6(3)...can he maintain the intensity? #USOpen @MBUSA pic.twitter.com/mCZFJ1xhdI
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2017
Upset Alert!
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2017
Mikhail Youzhny is one set away from defeating Federer in R2. 1-6, 7-6, 6-4, 0-0.https://t.co/zBI9pRNhSr #USOpen pic.twitter.com/NV0jYwkrT7
# of sets Youzhny had taken off Federer since 2003:
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2017
# of sets Youzhny has taken today: https://t.co/zBI9pRNhSr #USOpen pic.twitter.com/F2sPeL8k6A
Break Time!@rogerfederer takes a commanding 4-1 lead over Youzhny in the fourth set.https://t.co/zBI9pRNhSr #USOpen pic.twitter.com/ALkX9pV2SZ
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2017
We're going five!@rogerfederer takes the fourth set over Youzhny 6-4.https://t.co/zBI9pRNhSr #USOpen pic.twitter.com/gqmBnJx2EW
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2017
The crowd goes ! for @rogerfederer as he takes the 4th set in this nail-biter vs Youzhny! #USOpen @chase pic.twitter.com/UkTmtxHcrG
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2017
We know how it feels...#USOpen https://t.co/ENkkxNynAp
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2017
This is the 1st time in @rogerfederer's career that he has started a Slam w/back-to-back five-set matches.
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2017
https://t.co/zBI9pRNhSr #USOpen pic.twitter.com/24lbfY7E2t
That's the BREAK! @rogerfederer gets the first break of the 5th set and leads Youzhny 4-2.#USOpen pic.twitter.com/QBLwiceaMb
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2017
It's not how you start, but how you finish.@rogerfederer d. Youzhny 6-1, 6-7, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 to reach R3!https://t.co/zBI9pRNhSr #USOpen pic.twitter.com/CCjGlwR4Wf
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2017
: ICYMI: He does it again! Match point by the , @rogerfederer to head into R3. #USOpen @MBUSA pic.twitter.com/TdCJTE33Nf
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2017
"I've known Mikhail for a long time. We played each other in junior doubles in 1998. This was our best match."
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2017
@rogerfederer#USOpen pic.twitter.com/mg9gQ1bPeU
"I've known Mikhail for a long time. We played each other in junior doubles in 1998. This was our best match."
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2017
@rogerfederer#USOpen pic.twitter.com/mg9gQ1bPeU
"I'm pretty confident that I'm only going to get better from here."
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 1, 2017
-@rogerfederer https://t.co/zBI9pRNhSr #USOpen pic.twitter.com/maPhdRnYqu
KA-BOOM
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) September 1, 2017
https://t.co/m2lUrO7HFL
(Inputs from Reuters)