ROGER FEDERER progressed to the quarter-finals of the US Open without hitting a ball last night as Mardy Fish pulled out of their scheduled fourth-round match for health reasons.
The American needed minor surgery earlier this year to correct an irregular heartbeat and admitted after his five-set second-round win over Nikolay Davydenko that doubts over his health remained.
Fish then had another long match against Gilles Simon in the third round, after which he did not do a press conference for medical reasons.
The 30-year-old did not practise yesterday and, although no further explanation has been given for his withdrawal, it is believed to be because of worries over his heart.
The walkover means Federer extended his record of consecutive grand slam quarter-finals to 34, and in the last eight tomorrow he will play sixth seed Tomas Berdych.
The Czech has looked in fine form this tournament and reached his first quarter-final at Flushing Meadows with a dominant 7-6 (7/4) 6-4 6-1 victory over 11th seed Nicolas Almagro.
The first set was tight but Berdych gradually wore down Almagro and in the third set the Spaniard cut a frustrated figure.
Berdych and Federer have met 15 times before, with the Swiss player winning 11 of them, but Berdych did win their quarter-final clash at Wimbledon in 2011 before going on to reach his only grand slam final.
Fish issued a short statement, saying: “I regret that I have to withdraw from the US Open for precautionary measures. I was reluctant to do so, but am following medical advice. I had a good summer and look forward to resuming my tournament schedule in the fall.”
Berdych, meanwhile, felt winning the first set had been crucial in getting the edge over Almagro.
He said: “I think the key was the first set, which was really close, especially the tie-break was decided in one or two points. I was the one who made it, and then I started even better in the second set when I had my chance for the break.”
Berdych and Federer last met at the Masters Series tournament in Madrid in the spring, with the Swiss winning in three tough sets.
Serena Williams sent an ominous warning to her title rivals with a “double bagel” victory over Andrea Hlavackova to reach the women’s quarter-finals.
In the first set Hlavackova was completely outplayed and won only 10 points but she never let her head drop and was close to winning a game on a number of occasions in the second set.
She even had her first break point when Williams served for victory but she could not take it and the 30-year-old wrapped up a 6-0 6-0 win after 57 minutes.
Williams hit 31 winners and made only seven unforced errors to set up a quarter-final clash against Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic.
Williams said: “Andrea played really well today, even though it was love and love. She never gave up so it was really important for me to stay super focused.
“I think I played really well today, I haven’t played like this in the whole tournament.”
Meanwhile Rafa Nadal’s injury lay off was extended by another two months yesterday, with the Spaniard saying his troublesome knee will not be ready for the Davis Cup semi-final against the United States.
“I really want to be back competing and enjoying the tennis tour, but I have many years in front of me and my knee needs some rest,” Nadal said in a statement.
FLUSHING MEADOWS DETAILS:
Men’s Singles
Third round: (19) Philipp Kohlschreiber (Ger) bt (9) John Isner (USA) 6-4 3-6 4-6 6-3 6-4, (18) Stanislas Wawrinka (Swi) bt (14) Alexandr Dolgopolov (Ukr) 6-4 6-4 6-2, (2) Novak Djokovic (Ser) bt (31) Julien Benneteau (Fra) 6-3 6-2 6-2, (20) Andy Roddick (USA) bt Fabio Fognini (Ita) 7-5 7-6 (7-1) 4-6 6-4, (8) Janko Tipsarevic (Ser) bt Grega Zemlja (Slo) 6-4 6-3 7-5, (13) Richard Gasquet (Fra) bt Steve Johnson (USA) 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 6-3, (4) David Ferrer (Spa) bt Lleyton Hewitt (Aus) 7-6 (11-9) 4-6 6-3 6-0, (7) Juan Martin Del Potro (Arg) bt Leonardo Mayer (Arg) 6-3 7-5 7-6 (11-9), (6).
Fourth round: Tomas Berdych (Cze) bt (11) Nicolas Almagro (Spa) 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 6-1, (1) Roger Federer (Swi) bt (23) Mardy Fish (USA) w/o.
Women’s Singles
Fourth round: (7) Samantha Stosur (Aus) bt Laura Robson (Bri) 6-4 6-4, (3) Maria Sharapova (Rus) bt (19) Nadia Petrova (Rus) 6-1 4-6 6-4, (1) Victoria Azarenka (Blr) bt Anna Tatishvili (Geo) 6-2 6-2, (11) Marion Bartoli (Fra) bt (5) Petra Kvitova (Cze) 1-6 6-2 6-0, (12) Ana Ivanovic (Ser) bt Tsvetana Pironkova (Bul) 6-0 6-4, (4) Serena Williams (USA) bt Andrea Hlavackova (Cze) 6-0 6-0, 10) Sara Errani (Ita) bt (6) Angelique Kerber (Ger) 7-6 (7-5) 6-3, (10) Sara Errani (Ita) bt (6) Angelique Kerber (Ger) 7-6 (7-5) 6-3.
