NEW YORK (Reuters) - Roger Federer won a measure of revenge as he beat fifth-seeded Swede Robin Soderling 6-4 6-4 7-5 on Wednesday to reach the semi-finals of the U.S. Open for the seventh successive time.
Federer, showing the all-round brilliance that has won him a record 16 grand slam titles, refused to let gusty winds at Arthur Ashe center court slow down his charge as he routed Soderling, who had eliminated him in the quarter-finals at this year's French Open.
The 29-year-old Swiss, whose string of five consecutive U.S. Open titles was snapped last year in the final, commanded his serve with precision through the adverse conditions to quash Soderling in just under two hours.
Next up for the second-seeded Federer will be third seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia, who beat France's Gael Monfils to advance. Federer beat Djokovic in the Flushing Meadows final in 2007 and in the semi-finals the last two years.
(Reporting by Larry Fine, Editing by Frank Pingue)
Revenge, how sweet it is!. I feel like a kid on Christmas morning :), and yes I realize how ridiculous it sounds (to feel that way about a tennis match).
But I can't help it. I will even admit to jumping up and down when Roger hit an ace at triple match point (his 18th dude was on fire tonight!).
Roger has been playing so well all tournament, but tonight he stepped up to the level of excellence, and pure brilliance that has made him the owner of 16 grand slams. It's the Roger of old as many would say.
I would go as far as saying it's both. It's Roger of the old, and of the new.
After all we have seen improvement in his game (being more aggressive and attacking at the net instead of bashing the ball from the baseline).
The style of play that has got him to these quarters. Not in tonight's match, but throughout the past week and a half.
In the past the wind was a major factor for Roger, and could irritate him enough to lose a match.
That was not the case tonight he came prepared and turned on that Swiss precision. What he was able to do in the horrendously windy conditions was mind boggling at times.
I think he even surprised Robin by how well he played. Converting all the break chances that were given to him, breaking right back when broken on his own serve. Simply Roger at his best.
Djokovic is gonna be another test, but if Roger plays like tonight he won't be an issue.
I know I should take it one match at a time, but just the prospect of a first ever U.S. Open Fedal (Roger vs. Rafael Nadal) final is just too hard to resist thinking about.
When I started this post I wanted to be all humble, and neutral as Roger himself, but the magnitude of this win threw that right out the window.
So screw it, congrats Roger on an awesome win!, and a summer of successful revenge (beating Berdych, Baghdatis, Djoko in Canada and Soderling).
Order has finally been almost fully restored to the tennis world, long may it continue!.
*thinking to self* Why the hell didn't I tape this match!.
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