Roger Federer survives another five-set scare while Rafael Nadal made to work for US Open victory

Sport360 staff 14:00 01/09/2017
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Federer was taken to five sets for the second consecutive match.

    Former champions Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal battled into the US Open last 32 on Thursday while the women’s draw lost the fifth seed from its top eight.

    Federer recorded his 80th career win in New York but he needed five sets for the second successive match before claiming a 6-1, 6-7 (3/7), 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 triumph over Mikhail Youzhny.

    It was his 17th win in 17th meetings with the grizzled Russian, who, at 35, is his junior by just one year.

    World number one Nadal, meanwhile, saw off Japan’s world 121 Taro Daniel 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 after being blown off court in the first set.

    Federer, 36, and the five-time champion at the US Open, next faces another 35-year-old, Feliciano Lopez of Spain, for a place in the last 16. His record against Lopez is just as solid – 12-0.

    “It was quite a lot of fun out there – I feel quite warmed up by now,” said Australian Open and Wimbledon champion Federer, who fired 63 winners and 68 unforced errors.

    Youzhny admitted he had cramped, which meant he could move left to right but not forward and back.

    “That was hard to watch,” said Federer. “But this was probably the best match we have played against each other.”

    Top seed Nadal, the 2010 and 2013 champion, was rocked by New York-born Daniel in the first set.

    But Daniel, who has never beaten a top-10 player, paid the price for his all-out assault as Nadal prevailed to book a third round date with Argentine lucky loser Leonardo Mayer.

    “All the matches are difficult but especially here as everyone wants to play their best and if you don’t play your best it will be very difficult,” said Nadal, who recovered from a set and break down.

    He saw room for improvement after converting six of 11 break points.

    “I didn’t play very well but I will work hard to find better feelings because I know I can do much better,” he said.

    Recommended