Federer asked for a medical timeout after the second set against No. 33 seed Philipp Kohlschreiber, briefly let the court in Arthur Ashe Stadium to get a quick massage from a trainer, and soon was right back at it, finishing off his 6-4, 6-2, 7-5 victory Monday night. “I will try to do my best – I have nothing to lose”, Rublev said. He has wonderful defense. “He is confident. He had a few doubts at the beginning of the tournament that I believe now are gone and he is able to play his best tennis”. So there is nothing really what I did different.
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Back in ’09, Federer was at the peak of his powers, going for a record sixth consecutive US Open title to add to the French Open and Wimbledon titles he’d won earlier in the year. “I will always remember this”. Lopez has been a punching bag for Federer throughout his career (Federer has never lost to the Spaniard in their 12 encounters) and the match was no contest as Federer appeared to reset his game, with his trademark movement and powerful forehand and serve working in tandem precision. “I hope it´s not my last quarterfinal on the ATP Tour”.
“He (Dolgopolov) is a player who can play unbelievable shots but sometimes he can be very unpredictable so I just waited for my opportunity”.
It will be Kanepi’s sixth quarter-final at the majors and second in NY after also reaching the last eight in 2010.
“I was thinking to retire in the middle of the second set because I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t move well”. “Their winning is quite good – for Russians”.
Federer entered the quarterfinals with an 18-0 Grand Slam record this season, including titles at the Australian Open and Wimbledon to raise his record count to 19 major championships.
“It’s great because we are giving each other motivation”.
“I think it takes something out of you when you are in his situation and you don’t do this very often”, explained Wilander. “Why not?´” Rublev said. “He’s a good guy”. They also have level to be in quarters, in semi-finals.
“It was impossible to win today”, said the Belgian.
Rafael Nadal upheld his end of the bargain for a mouth-watering US Open semi-final against Roger Federer by dismantling an overwhelmed Andrey Rublev in Thursday’s (AEST) last-eight tie.
“I´m thinking more like it´s unbelievable what they are doing”.
“I played a solid match with not many mistakes”, Nadal said.
Rublev turned to tennis after liking the game his mother coached more than football or boxing, which his dad coached. But for me it was an important victory. I don´t like it.
“I believe it is a nightmare for Federer to play Nadal”.
“Also I like football”.
Now these two players will play in the quarterfinal and since it is safe to go with the pedigree and the past US Open record, it is hard to go past seven-time Major victor Venus as far as the tag of title favourite is concerned. I was not ready to have less tennis.
Rublev wanted a solo sport more than being part of a team.
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“It’s pretty fantastic where I am now”, Kanepi said, “compared to where I was few months ago”.
