Roger Federer has followed Novak Djokovic into the fourth round of the US Open with a straight-sets victory. Opponent Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany promised to give Fed a tough match but couldn’t deliver.
Philipp Kohlschreiber and Roger Federer are friends off the court. Nonetheless, the German had vowed to derail the former world number one’s quest for an eighteenth major title and a sixth US Open crown. Federer, however, had other ideas.
The Swiss got off to a hot start, breaking Kohlschreiber immediately in the first set. It was no great task for Federer, who was in dominating form on his serve, to take the first act 6-3.
Kohlschreiber’s resistance stiffened thereafter, and he managed to break Federer in each of the two subsequent sets. But the most successful player in men’s tennis history stayed in control and broke back immediately both times. Ultimately, the difference in quality was all too apparent, and Federer cruised to a straight sets 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 win in a mere 1 hour and 33 minutes.
“I think I won the big points today,” said Federer with characteristic understatement. “I served well when I had to at the end.”
Federer ran his personal record against Kohlschreiber to 10-0. He’s yet to lose a set at this year’s US Open and has dropped a total of only 20 games along the way. He now faces American John Isner in the round of 16.
