Even Roger Federer feels the pressure of playing under the lights on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The five-time US Open champion launched his campaign with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 win over #NextGenATP home hopeful Frances Tiafoe on Tuesday, rebounding after a shaky start in front of a packed crowd. It was the first time Federer had been taken to five sets in the opening round at Flushing Meadows since his debut against Peter Wessels in 2000. His 79th US Open match win ties him in second place with Andre Agassi, behind only Jimmy Connors on 98. “I think in many ways people were hoping for a good battle between the #NextGen and somebody established like myself,” Federer said. “In...
It somehow has never happened, but Roger Federer – and every tennis fan in the world – would welcome the occasion. Federer and Rafael Nadal have played 37 times in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series, including three times this year – Australian Open final, Indian Wells round of 16 and Miami final – all of which Federer won. But the all-time greats have never faced off at the US Open, which starts Monday in New York. The match-up could happen this year, though. Federer, the third seed, has been drawn in the same half as No. 1 seed Nadal. The two could meet in the semi-finals. “I'd love to play Rafa here in New York. Hopefully it will be a night...
The US Open, known before 1968 as the US National Championships, is the second-oldest of the four Grand Slams after Wimbledon, and the only one to have been played each year since its inception in 1881. This is the 137th staging of the event, as well as the 50th US Open and 199th Grand Slam tournament of the Open Era. The US Open has been held on the hard courts of Flushing since moving from Forest Hills in 1978. It was played on grass through 1974 and on clay from 1975 to 1977. NO. 1 ON THE LINE IN EMIRATES ATP RANKINGS: New World No. 1 Rafael Nadal puts his ranking on the line at the US Open and No....
World No. 1 Rafael Nadal has been drawn in the same half of the US Open draw as Roger Federer, who, alongside Andy Murray, could rise to the top of the Emirates ATP Rankings after the conclusion of the final Grand Slam championship of the year. The draw ceremony took part at the US Open Experience in the Seaport District of Manhattan on Friday. Two-time former champion Nadal could meet Grigor Dimitrov, the recent Western & Southern Open titlist, or David Goffin in the quarter-finals prior to a semi-final showdown against Federer, who is bidding to capture his sixth US Open crown. Nadal and Federer have never met at the US Open, and while Nadal leads 23-14 in their FedEx...