Federer wins, Murray loses

NEW YORK (AFP) — Andy Murray crashed out of the US Open in the fourth round Monday, his earliest Grand Slam exit in five years, while 17-time major winner Roger Federer advanced to the quarterfinals.

South African 15th seed Kevin Anderson stunned British third seed Murray 7-6 (5), 6-3, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (0) to end his run of 18 consecutive major quarterfinals since the 2010 US Open.

“That’s something that is disappointing to lose because of that. That’s many years’ work that’s gone into building that sort of consistency. To lose that is tough,” said Murray.

Swiss second seed Federer, seeking his sixth US Open title, dispatched US 13th seed John Isner 7-6 (0), 7-6 (6), 7-5 to reach a quarterfinal against French 12th seed Richard Gasquet, who ousted Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-1.

Anderson reached his first Grand Slam quarterfinal after seven prior fourth-round defeats.

Anderson, who won his third career title two weeks ago at Winston-Salem, is the first South African in New York’s last-eight since Wayne Ferreira in 1992.

Anderson, 1-5 in prior matches against Murray, fired 25 aces in ending an 0-15 career hoodoo against top-10 opponents to book a last-eight date with Swiss fifth seed Stan Wawrinka.

Reigning French Open champion Wawrinka defeated US left-hander Donald Young, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Murray, the 2012 champion, had 49 winners and 20 unforced errors, but did not make a forehand winner until the last game of the second set. Anderson blasted 81 winners to 57 unforced errors.

Federer, trying to become at 34 the oldest US Open champion since Ken Rosewall in 1970, stretched his US Open win streak over Americans to 12 since losing to Andre Agassi in 2001.