Federer, Berdych will be the most interesting quarter of this slam (well Delpo/Roddick vs Djokovic shouldn’t be bad as well).
The two players got to the final eight in different ways.
Federer – Fish Ret.
Yes, bad news here as Mardy Fish decided not to play the quarters. The American has been struggling this year with an irregular heart beat that produced a bit scare. Apparently this problem was fixed after an intervention, but there was something strange after his previsous game (a 4th set battle against Simon) as the American didn’t show up at the post match interview due to a health issues. Then few hours before his match against Roger he announced he wouldn’t play.
Mardy said in his statement. “I regret that I have to withdraw from the US Open for precautionary measures,” Fish said. “I was reluctant to do so, but am following medical advisement. I had a good summer and look forward to resuming my tournament schedule in the fall.â€
“I am really sorry for Mardy. I just want to wish him a speedy recovery. We all want to see him back on tour soon,” Federer said. “It will be a tough match against Tomas. We have played many times in the past and he has always been a tough opponent. I will have to continue to serve well and dictate the points.”
Berdych – Almagro 7-6 6-4 6-1
The good news is that this time Berdych did shake Almagro hand and he wasn’t booed by the spectators as he was during their last match in a slam (in the fouthr round at this year’s Australian Open when Tomas was furious with Nicolas for blasting a powerful forehand at him). Going back to the match, there was a good battle in the first set when Tomas won at the tiebreak. The second set was a bit of an easy routine as it took only one break for the Czech to win it. Then Almagro imploded in the third.
“I think the key was the first set, which was really close, especially the tie-break was decided in one or two points,” said Berdych. “I was the one who made it, and then I started even better in the second set when I get my chance for the break.”
Talking about his next match with the Maestro. “He has been playing some incredible tennis again,” said Berdych of Federer. “He won another Grand Slam, become No. 1 again, so probably there is no better player at all to play right now. When I saw the draw in the beginning, I was like, ‘Yeah, that would be the goal to get into play a match with Roger.’ I’m there, so I will try to do my best. We will see.”
Head to Head – Roger leads 11-4
The world no.1 has a good record with Berdych, but they are 3-3 in the last 6 matches. Roger leads 5-1 in best of 5 matches, but he lost the last one in the quarters of Wimbledon 2010 (6-4 3-6 6-1 6-4). The Swiss is still the favourite.
