Eight years and four wrist surgeries since ending Roger Federer’s 40-match US Open win streak, Juan Martin del Potro returns to Arthur Ashe Stadium for a rematch. The Argentine is 5-16 in his FedEx ATP Head2Head record with Federer. All five of his wins have come on hard courts, none more meaningful than when he rallied from a set-and-a-break down to deny Federer a sixth straight US Open title in 2009. Del Potro can prevent history from being made again as Federer and Rafael Nadal are one win from meeting for the first time at the US Open. The Swiss and Spaniard have been this close six times now, including in 2009, when del Potro defeated Nadal 6-2, 6-2, 6-2...
The last time Roger Federer and Juan Martin del Potro dueled on Arthur Ashe Stadium, it was the 2009 final. Del Potro claimed a five-set thriller for his lone Grand Slam title and eight years later, Federer will finally have his shot at revenge at the US Open. "I think we're different players today," Federer reflected. "We both play differently. Because of his surgery, I think his backhand has changed. He uses his slice much more. Just alone because of that, the game would be different. "I'm playing more aggressive, as well, on the return. I play shorter points. I don't use my slice as much, whereas he does now. It's a bit of a change. We did play each...
It is one of sport’s greatest ever rivalries, spanning 37 matches and taking in nine Grand Slam finals, but somehow, a Roger Federer – Rafael Nadal battle has never graced Flushing Meadows. Now, in a US Open that has been rife with upsets, Federer is hoping he and Nadal can continue to avoid any such pitfalls before their potential blockbuster semi-final clash. They came within one point of playing each other in the 2011 final, but while Nadal made his way past Andy Murray in the semi-finals, Federer was denied on two match points against Novak Djokovic, who ultimately prevailed in their contest 7-5 in the fifth set. “When you see a lot of seeds going out, you naturally put...
Roger Federer dazzles with two backhand hot shots against Feliciano Lopez under the lights on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Saturday night at the US Open. Hot Shots courtesy US Open. Visit usopen.org for more video. Hot Shots not available in USA. Photo: Getty Images
Sharper, more confident and more consistent. It’s the report card that comes as music to Roger Federer’s ears after finding his range to cruise past Feliciano Lopez into the fourth round at this year’s US Open on Saturday. In a worrying sign for his second-week opponents, the rust from the five-time champion’s opening two matches was rarely seen in a 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 dismissal of the Spaniard. His showdown with the 35- year old was the oldest match-up at the US Open since Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl squared off in 1992. The Swiss was 15-1 in third-round US Open matches coming in, with his lone defeat coming at the hands of Lopez’s countryman Juan Carlos Ferrero on debut in...