Fed ready to Slam it again
ROGER FEDERER rolled back the years to cruise into the last 16 of the US Open as he eyed a 20th Grand Slam triumph.
Federer, 36, beat 35-year-old Spaniard Felciano Lopez in straight sets on Saturday.
It was the oldest US Open match-up since 40-year-old Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl, 32, clashed in 1992.
Third seed Federer next ® tackles Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber.
He is on course to face Rafa Nadal in the semis at Flushing Meadow for the first time, after the Spaniard had a tough four sets win over Argentina’s Leonardo Mayer.
The Swiss ace was also excited to breeze through after being taken to five sets in his opening matches. Federer said: “It was clearly nice to go up two sets to love for a change. Feels different from there.”
Federer had six months off with a knee injury before storming back to win the Australian Open in January and then Wimbledon.
He also shrugged off a back injury scare going into the US Open.
And apart from one poor service game in the third set, he saw off 13th seed Lopez with ease. Federer said: “I needed to get over the fear of the back issue, especially in that first match, the first set.
“Then I think the wobble I had in the second round was due to my preparation.
“I think now I’m just trusting my movement better. My serve is there. My mind is there.
“I can finally focus on playing tennis and not so much about the past.”