Evans claim rankles with great
British rival Dan Evans criticised organisers after he was blown away by the Swiss in the third round at Flushing Meadows. Federer needed just one hour and 20 minutes to swat aside the British No2 6-2, 6-2, 6-1.
It was the quickest completed men’s match of the tournament – but Evans was fuming at being asked to play twice within 24 hours. That prompted an angry response from Federer.
He said: “I don’t remember that I asked for something, but I definitely didn’t do it intentionally. I don’t even know if the team asked for a day (session). I know there were questions to have a preference.
“But that doesn’t mean, ‘Roger asks, Roger gets’. Just remember that, because I have heard this s*** too often. I’m sick and tired of it.
“We can give our opinion, that’s what we do. But I’m still going to walk out to play even if they schedule me at four in the morning.”
Evans’ rain-delayed second-round match against Lucas Pouille, which lasted almost four hours the day before, left him looking flat and fatigued on his debut at Arthur Ashe.
Evans said: “I thought it was pretty tough I was first up after playing yesterday, if I’m being brutally honest. He was totally fresh and after battling yesterday, I didn’t get out of here until probably going on 6pm.
“It’s just complete polar opposite. And it’s near-on impossible to beat him feeling tired, stiff and after playing four sets the day before, although he played pretty much no-error tennis.”
Asked if he made any representation over his scheduling, the world No58 said: “You think a guy who’s my ranking has any say in that?” JO KONTA has won through to a Sunday showdown with Karolina Pliskova in the US Open.
The British No1 reached the fourth round at Flushing Meadows for the third time in her career with a 6-2, 6-3 win over China’s Zhang Shuai.
The 28-year-old now goes head to head with third seed Pliskova, the big-serving Czech who has won six of their previous seven meetings.
Konta said: “I’m really pleased. Every match is tough in its own way and we had difficult conditions to deal with as well. I’m pleased to have stayed very present and was ready to adapt when I needed.”