SHARE
COPY LINK
US OPEN TENNIS

ROGER FEDERER

Federer-Wawrinka semifinal clash looming

Switzerland's Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka will face each other in the US Open semifinals — if they win quarterfinal matches today.

Federer-Wawrinka semifinal clash looming
Federer: seeking to make history. Photo: Don Emmert/AFP
Federer, trying to become the oldest US Open champion since Ken Rosewall in 1970, seeks a tenth semifinal berth on the New York hardcourts Wednesday against France's Richard Gasquet.

The 34-year-old Basel native, winner of a men's record 17 Grand Slam titles and five US Open crowns, has not dropped a set so far in the Flushing Meadows fortnight.   

World number two Federer, a runner-up to top-ranked Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon two months ago, could have a chance for revenge in a US Open final rematch if form holds into Sunday's championship match.
   
Federer has dominated the rivalry with 12th-seeded Wimbledon semi-finalist Gasquet, winning 14 of their 16 meetings, including the past six matches in a row and all eight contests on hard courts.
   
“I'm not sure if I've seen Gasquet play as well as well as he has right now,” Federer said.

“I like the way he played at Wimbledon — he has a good attitude,” he said.

“He was fighting. Good shot selection. I'm sure he gained confidence from Wimbledon. That's why I expect it to be tougher against him than in previous times.
   
“I feel like this could be one of the tougher Gasquets I've played, so I expect it to be difficult.”
   
Switzerland's number two contender, reigning French Open chamption Wawrinka, will face South African 15th seed Kevin Anderson in the other men's quarterfinal at Arthur Ashe Stadium, with a semifinal berth against Federer or Gasquet at stake.
   
Defending champion Marin Cilic, the ninth seed from Croatia, will face Djokovic in the other Friday semifinal.
   
Fifth seed Wawrinka is 3-4 against Anderson, having lost his past four meetings with the big-serving Johannesburg native, who upset British third seed Andy Murray to reach his first Slam quarterfinal after going 0-7 in the last 16 before shocking the Scotsman.
   
After ending his Open Era-futility record for reaching the quarterfinals, Anderson became the first South African in the US Open last eight since Wayne Ferreira in 1992.
   
The last South African in a US Open semi-final was Johan Kriek in 1980.
   
Wawrinka, 4-6 in Slam quarterfinals, has not played any top-50 foe at the Open until now.
   
The 2014 Australian Open champion, who was pushed to four sets by American Donald Young in the fourth round, had run the most distance of any quarterfinalist in the tournament.
   
“It's good. I'm losing weight,” Wawrinka said.

“Doesn't affect anything. I feel really fresh. I don't mind at all.”
   
 

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

ROGER FEDERER

Is this the end of the road for Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer?

Roger Federer is talking optimistically about returning to his "highest level" after knee surgery, but does tennis have to start adjusting to a future without the Swiss star?

Is this the end of the road for Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer?
Is it the end of the line for Roger? Photo: Martin BUREAU / AFP

The 20-time Grand Slam winner announced on Wednesday that he would be sidelined until 2021 after his second operation in a matter of months.

Federer remains upbeat, tweeting: “I plan to take the necessary time to be 100 percent ready to play at my highest level.”

In some ways 2020 is a good season to miss after the coronavirus ravaged the tennis schedule. Writing Federer off in the past has proved dangerous.

He returned from a six-month injury lay-off to claim the Australian Open in 2017, winning his eighth Wimbledon crown later that year.

But he will be 40 in 2021 and is now heading into uncharted territory.

Despite his groaning trophy cabinet, there are two factors that will motivate Federer to keep going — the risk of losing his grip on the men's Grand Slam title record and a missing Olympics singles gold medal.

Rafael Nadal has 19 majors, just one shy of Federer's mark and Djokovic has 17.

Spain's Nadal will be fancied to draw level with Federer at the French Open, rescheduled for September, while few would bet against Djokovic winning in New York weeks earlier.

In April, Federer said he was “devastated” when Wimbledon was cancelled for the first time since World War II. Last year he fell agonisingly short at the All England Club, failing to convert two championship points on his own serve against Djokovic.

The Wimbledon grass probably remains his best chance of adding to his Grand Slam collection — he has not won the US Open since 2008 and his only title at Roland Garros came in 2009.

Even though Federer has slipped from the very pinnacle of the game, he is still a major threat to Nadal and Djokovic.

'Golden' ambitions

Last year, the world number four had a 53-10 win-loss record and he reached the semi-finals at the Australian Open in January in his only tournament this year.

Federer, who is still six ATP titles short of Jimmy Connors' all-time record of 109, has one glaring omission from his CV — the Olympic title.

The Swiss won doubles gold in Beijing in 2008 with compatriot Stan Wawrinka but lost in the singles final to Andy Murray in London four years later.

The postponed Tokyo Games will almost certainly be Federer's last opportunity to complete a career “golden” Grand Slam — he will turn 40 on the day of the closing ceremony next year.

Tennis will feel the loss of the elegant Federer keenly when he walks off the court for the last time.

Djokovic and Nadal have been the dominant forces in recent years but the Swiss remains the biggest draw and last month topped Forbes' list of the world's highest-earning athletes.

His last appearance on court was in front of nearly 52,000 fans — touted by organisers as a world record for tennis — at a charity match against Nadal in Cape Town in February.

Federer is nearly always the crowd favourite wherever he plays and has proved a perfect ambassador for the sport since he won his first Grand Slam title in 2003.

He certainly expects to be back and competitive next year.

“I will be missing my fans and the tour dearly but I will look forward to seeing everyone back on tour at the start of the 2021 season,” he tweeted.

The avalanche of support from his adoring fans showed they would miss him too, but they will have to get used to a time when he is gone for good.

SHOW COMMENTS