Tough openers could groove Federer in US Open bid

PLAYING two five-set matches may not be regarded as the best way to start a grand slam campaign, but it might be just what Roger Federer needed to get into the groove at the US Open, according to former world number one Mats Wilander.

The Swiss, chasing a record-extending 20th major singles title in New York after winning the Australian Open and Wimbledon this season, ran into a spot of bother when he was two sets to one down in the second round against Russian Mikhail Youzhny on Thursday.

But Federer prevailed 6-1 6-7(3) 4-6 6-4 6-2 to record his 17th victory against Youzhny in as many encounters.

“He was playing a guy he had always beaten and the first five games went in 20 minutes, all his shots were in. Then towards the end of the second set, Youzhny changed his game and hit harder and Federer was caught off guard,” Swede Wilander, at Flushing Meadows as an analyst, said.

“It’s not easy to go from ‘I’m gonna win easy’ to suddenly having to focus. It took him a while to do that.”

But that might be a blessing in disguise for the third seed, who needed match practice after not playing for two weeks because of back problems.

“He was a bit in trouble but it’s not that bad. Since he did not play for two weeks, I would not be too worried,” said Wilander.

“He looked like he was still a bit cautious but now he knows that he can leave the worry of his back behind him and focus on playing solid tennis for a whole match.”

Being pushed to the limit in early matches is not something Federer is used to but he will take it as a confidence booster.

“It’s a new experience for him,” Wilander added.

“I’m not concerned at all. Maybe it is better in a way. Emotionally it will help him. He would probably have preferred to play six perfect sets (in his first two matches) but I think he will put a positive spin on this.

“I can’t remember being disappointed after losing a match. He will gain confidence from the fact that he has won the points that he had to win at the end of the sets. I think it’s a positive start for him.”

There will be a new Grand Slam finalist at this year’s tournament after Marin Cilic suffered a shock defeat to Diego Schwartzman in the third round.

The Croat was one of only three players who had reached the last match of a major in the bottom half of the draw, having won the US Open in 2014 and reaching the final of Wimbledon earlier this year.

Cilic came into the tournament on the back of an abductor injury and he struggled against the Argentine after taking a set lead to lose 6-4 5-7 5-7 4-6.

And after the 28-year-old joined fellow former major finalists Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and David Ferrer in heading out of the draw, a fresh face will have a shot at winning their first slam.

Paolo Lorenzi and 12th seed Pablo Carreno Busta have already booked their spot in the second week.

Home favourites Sam Querrey and John Isner are perhaps the favourites to go the distance – although Carreno Busta is the highest ranked man left in that half of the draw.

The winner between Kyle Edmund and 18- year- old hotshot Denis Shapovalov will also fancy their chan- ces in what is the most wide open draw in years.

In the other side of the tournamnet, Federer and Rafael Nadal are the heavy favourites to reach the final, although the pair have stuttered so far.

● Petra Kvitova reached the second week of a grand slam for the first time since her career-threatening hand injury with victory over Caroline Garcia in the third round yesterday.

The Czech 13th seed won the first set in just 25 minutes before serving out a tighter second set to win 6-0 6-4.

Kvitova hit 22 winners and 14 unforced errors in an impressive one hour, 13 minute victory on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

She was stabbed by an intruder in her home in December last year.

The 27-year-old returned to action at the French Open in May and reached the second round, before falling at the same stage at Wimbledon.

The two-time Wimbledon champion will play Spanish third seed Garbine Muguruza or Slovakia’s Magdalena Rybarikova in round four.

● Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta, seeded 12, hit 32 winners to beat Frenchman Nicholas Mahut 6-3 6-4 6-3 and seal a fourth-round spot. – Reuters