Roger Federer is into the fourth round at the U.S. Open with a convincing 6-3 6-4 6-4 win over the German Philipp Kohlschreiber Saturday afternoon. The match wasn’t as straightforward as Federer’s first and second round wins earlier in the week, but still Kohlschreiber was not close to getting the surprise upset over the 17-time grand slam champion.
Roger Federer Eases into the Fourth Round
Kohlschreiber entered play today with his streak of three straight years reaching the fourth round in New York in jeopardy. To make it four years in a row he would of had to play the match of his life to beat Federer, a player he is 0-9 against in entire career. Kohlschreiber has only ever won two sets against Federer in those nine matches.
One of those sets he won came earlier this year in Halle on the grass. Kohlschreiber won the first set in a tiebreak, and was a couple points away from winning the match in a final set tiebreak before Federer stormed back to win.
That was the closest Kohlschreiber ever came to winning against Federer. On this day he was not so close.
In the first set Federer went out and got a quick early break much to the delight of the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd. With Federer up 3-0 things did get a little tricky for him. Kohlschreiber held his serve for the first time in the match and then had two chances to break in Federer’s next service game to get back on serve. Federer saved both and continued his perfect run of games held. He was yet to be broken since the Wimbledon final back in July. Federer took the first set in 26 minutes.
In the second set Federer once again went out and got a quick break of serve, but this time Kohlschreiber got the break right back. He broke Federer to love to get back on serve. It was the first time Federer was broken in 72 straight service games.
The Swiss maestro didn’t let the break bother him as he broke Kohlschreiber right back to get the lead again 3-2.
Federer did however, have some more trouble on his serve later in the set. Up 4-3 Federer went quickly down 0-30 before serving his way out of trouble to hold for 5-3. Federer went on to take the second set in 33 minutes.
In the third set it was Kohlschreiber this time who went out and got the early break. Federer was broken at love for the second time in the match. The German’s lead was short lived as he too was broken to love in his next service game.
At the business end of the set Federer got the important break to go out in front permanently 5-4. He held his service game and got the win in 92 minutes.
Federer’s play in the match was lackadaisical at times. There was poor patches of play by Federer especially during his service games. His serve was not where he would like it to be as he had four double faults and his first serve percentage was only at 60 per cent. Not only was his serve rusty, but he had a total of 26 unforced errors compared to 27 winners.
He knows better than anyone that he needs to play better and bet on seeing his game at a higher level in his fourth round match. Next for Federer is American #1 John Isner.
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