No sweat as Federer joins Murray in quarter-finals

Andy Murray celebrates match

point against Milos Raonic. WORLD No.1 Roger Federer had a walkover while third seed Andy Murray breezed past Canada’s Milos Raonic as both reached the quarterfinals of the US Open yesterday.

Federer advanced to his 34th consecutive grand slam quarter-final without touching a racquet when American Mardy Fish withdrew from their US Open match for health reasons.

The 31-year-old Swiss star, seeking his 18th grand slam title and sixth US Open crown, moved through to a last-eight match-up against Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych, who dispatched Spanish 11th seed Nicolas Almagro 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, 6-1.

The walkover stretched Federer’s record for quarter-final grand slam appearances in the Open era to 38, three shy of the record 41 achieved by American Jimmy Connors.

Federer, who won his 17th grand slam title in July at Wimbledon, has not dropped a set in the Flushing Meadows fortnight.

Fish missed two months of the season earlier this year because of a heart problem, being admitted to hospital after the Miami Masters event in March when his heart rate increased to three times its normal resting pace. Fish, 30, then had a cardiac catheter ablation in Los Angeles on May 23 to address his heart condition.

‘‘I regret that I have to withdraw from the US Open for precautionary measures,’’ Fish said.

‘‘I was reluctant to do so, but am following medical advisement.

‘‘I had a good summer and look forward to resuming my tournament schedule in the fall.’’

Federer said he was sorry to see Fish forced to withdraw from their encounter.

‘‘I am really sorry for Mardy. I just want to wish him a speedy recovery. We all want to see him back on tour soon,’’ Federer said.

Berdych, who took only two hours to reach his first US Open quarter-final, has lost 11 of 15 career meetings to top seed Federer but won three of his past six meetings.

Berdych finally reached the last eight after 10 tries with his 200th career hardcourt triumph.

Murray booked his spot with a comfortable 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 win over 15th seed Raonic.

Olympic champion Murray, seeking his first grand slam title, will play for a semi-finals berth against Croatian 12th seed Marin Cilic.