Federer tames Robredo make US Open quarters

World No 1 was at his best against a hapless Robredo

Federer tames Robredo make US Open quarters

World No 1 was at his best against a hapless Robredo

Roger Federer during his 7-6, 6-2, 6-2 win over Tommy Robredo in the fourth round of the US Open yesterday. PIC/AFP

Federer will play Robin Soderling to qualify for the semi-finals of a Grand Slam tournament for a record 22nd straight time, taking an 11-0 head-to-head record against the Swede into that match.

"He's got a big game and we had the final of the French Open - one of the most important matches of my career so it's nice to play him again," Federer said of his forthcoming clash with Soderling.

Short on suspense
The suspense against Robredo lasted all of one set, after which the gulf in class was too much for the Spaniard to deal with as Federer won 10 out of 12 games to effectively kill off the contest.

The first set against Federer was drum tight with both men failing to convert two break points before Federer made the breakthrough in the 11th game thanks to a sloppy game from the Spaniard.

He then comfortably served out to love to pocket the first set in 57 minutes.

Federer was getting into full swing and he grabbed back-to-back breaks to take a 5-1 lead in the second set as Robredo started to struggle.

The world No.1 let slip a set point on Robredo's next serve but had no difficulty serving out in the next game for a two sets to love lead.

It was more one-way traffic in the third with Federer jumping out into a 4-0 lead and then even allowing himself to enjoy some serve and volley practice as he completed his 39th straight win at the US Open, including one walkover.

The 28-year-old Federer is bidding to become the first player since American Bill Tilden in 1925 to win six straight US Open crowns.

He also would make it three out of four Grand Slam titles this year, and for the fourth time in his career, and take his career haul to 16, two clear of second-best Pete Sampras.

Verdasco ends US challenge
Spain's Fernando Verdasco ended US interest in the men's singles at the US Open on Sunday by defeating John Isner 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

It was the first time in the 41-year Open era that no American had made it into the last eight of the US Open, delivering a devastating blow to hopes that US men's tennis was on the way back up.

The 10th-seeded Verdasco will play either fourth seed Novak Djokovic or wily Czech Radek Stepanek for a place in the semi-finals.

"Sorry to beat the last one (American)," Verdasco told the crowd on the Louis Armstrong Stadium court. "You can support me now if you want."

The match was an exercise in contrasts between the six-foot-nineu00a0 giant American who relies on his big serve and staccato rallies and the tough Spaniard, more accustomed to grinding it out from the baseline.

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