Federer Reaches 18th Straight Grand Slam Semi
05/09/2008 06:18
Flushing Meadows, NY (Sports Network) - Reigning four-time champion Roger Federer was a hard-fought quarterfinal winner Thursday at the U.S. Open. The Swiss superstar will now play in his record 18th straight major semifinal.
The second-seeded former world No. 1 Federer held off qualifier Gilles Muller of Luxembourg 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) on Day 11 on the hardcourts at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Federer took the first set via tiebreak against the 6-foot-5 big-serving Muller, as neither player was able to record a service break in the opening stanza.
In the second set, the Swiss would assume control of the bout by registering the first, and only, break of the match for a 5-4 lead and then closed out the stanza with a hold for a commanding two-sets-to-love advantage.
The third set went to another tiebreak, which Federer captured by winning five of the last six points. He converted on his first match point when a game Muller netted one final backhand.
Muller swatted 16 aces in the 2-hour, 26-minute affair.
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SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
What an impressive record – reaching the semi-final in 18 straight Grand Slam events. Could it possibly be another Federer/Rafael Nadal final? If so, this would be the third Grand Slam event this year where the two will have faced off in the final – the others being Wimbledon and the French Open. If we could see a final that is even half as good as Wimbledon, it would be a real treat and something special.