Second-Seeded Federer Aims for Shot at U.S. Open Semis

September 8, 2015 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff

Two Swiss stars stand one win away from a semifinal showdown, but first they must defeat a pair of players on Wednesday, Day 10 of the 2015 U.S. Open, who are coming off Top 10 wins. During the Day Session, reigning French Open champion Stan Wawrinka faces first-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist Kevin Anderson, who knocked off the third-seeded Andy Murray in the fourth round. The 15th-seeded Anderson has defeated the fifth-seeded Wawrinka in each of their last four meetings. In the men’s nightcap, five-time U.S. Open champion Roger Federer continues his quest for an Open Era record sixth title, as he meets the 12th-seeded Richard Gasquet, whom he has never lost to on a hard court (8-0). Gasquet is coming off a four-set win over the sixth-seeded Tomas Berdych in the fourth round.

Wawrinka has been a model of consistency at Grand Slams, competing in 43 consecutive majors since debuting as a qualifier at Roland Garros in 2005. He is one of two players to reach the quarterfinals at all four Grand Slam events this season (also Novak Djokovic). In fact, he has advanced to the quarters or better at six major tournaments in a row, eight of the last nine, and nine of the last 11. Prior to reaching the Roland Garros quarters in 2013, Wawrinka had only been part of the ‘Elite Eight’ in two of his first 32 Grand Slam appearances.

“I've played him a few times now and had some success against him the last few times we've played … very close matches,” said Anderson of Wawrinka. “I mean, Paris last year, he served for the match. I was able to come through and get that. At Queen's this year, I think it was two tiebreak sets, so very close. I played very good tennis. It's going to be a tough match. I mean, I think especially in the last few years, he's really put himself up there as one of the main contenders for slams. I really feel he's playing some of his best tennis. To win two slams in the last year and a half is obviously a testament to that.”

In the fourth round, Wawrinka converted all four of his break point opportunities versus Donald Young. He will be hard-pressed to repeat that effort against the 6-foot 8-inch Anderson, who leads all players with 94 aces at the U.S. Open and has saved 16 of 20 break points overall. Anderson is attempting to defeat two Top 10 players in the same tournament for the first time in his career, failing to do so the first five times he had the chance.

Federer has not dropped a set en route to his 11th U.S. Open quarterfinal appearance, highlighted by his win over American John Isner in the fourth round. The first set marked the first time Isner lost a tie-breaker 7-0 on tour (430 career tie-breakers). Federer has all the numbers going for him entering his 17th meeting with Gasquet, holding a 14-2 advantage coming into Wednesday’s meeting.

“I'm not sure if I've seen maybe Gasquet play as well as he is right now,” said Federer of Gasquet. “I really like the way he played in Wimbledon, and also now here. I haven't seen that much. But the match I saw that he played against Stan and Novak at Wimbledon was impressive. He had a good attitude. He was fighting. Good shot selection.”

On the women’s side of the draw, the 20th seeded Victoria Azarenka faces the number two seed, Romanian Simona Halep. Azarenka is 2-0 lifetime against Halep, with both victories coming back in 2012 in Linz and Doha.

Azarenka is making her 10th consecutive appearance at the U.S. Open and is through to the quarterfinals for the fourth year in a row. She is a two-time runner-up, in 2012 and 2013. Azarenka is playing in her second Grand Slam quarterfinals of 2015, and is 7-7 in Grand Slam quarterfinal matches to date.

Halep is making her sixth appearance at the U.S. Open and is through to the quarterfinals for the first time. Her previous best in Flushing Meadows was reaching the Round of 16 in 2013. She has now reached at least quarterfinals at all four Grand Slam tournaments.

“I believe that I can win it,” said Halep of Azarenka. “I have just to stay positive, to try everything, to try to do my game, to be aggressive and to play fast. I know that she will fight because she's a fighter girl. But, you know, it's the quarterfinals … we both are tired, so I have just to work out and to take my chance.”

Making eighth main draw appearance at the U.S. Open, the fourth-seeded Petra Kvitova is through to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open for the first time, and on Wednesday, faces the number 26 seed, Flavia Pennetta. In six career meetings, each has three wins, the most recent by Kvitova in the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The 2015 U.S. Open marks Kvitova’s 30th Grand Slam main draw and she is a two-time Wimbledon singles champion, in 2011 and in 2014.

Pennetta is making her 11th main draw appearance at the U.S. Open. She achieved her best Grand Slam singles result to date in Flushing Meadows when she advanced to the semis in 2013.

“Flavia is a good girl, so I'm looking forward to the match,” said Kvitova. “It's a long time since we played each other. I think she's on fire. She's playing well here. She beat Sam [Stosur] in two sets. So I think she really has to feel well. It's the quarterfinals, so I don't really think that someone easy to beat there. I'm looking forward to my first time in quarters. I will enjoy that for sure.”

Click here for the complete schedule for Day 10 of the 2015 U.S. Open.


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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