Rogertweets: 1.10am BSTFederer* 6-3,3-2 Gasquet (*denotes next server)Gasquet steadies the ship with a couple of routine points but then a wonderful disguised bachand dropshot by Federer brings up 30-15 and he finds a forehand winner into the corner for 30-30 to retain the pressure on Gasquet. Second serve. Another rally and for once it’s a Federer error on his backhand that gives Gasquet an significant game point. He goes wide on his second serve and Federer can’t get his backhand over the net and the gap stays at one game. Gasquet hanging in. 1.06am BSTFederer 6-3, 3-1 Gasquet* (*denotes next server)Gasquet had a worthy opening service game and a sloppy second one and yet again he’s given Federer an opportunity to ease away in the second set. 1.03am BSTFederer* 6-3, or 2-1 Gasquet (*denotes next server)Another testing game for Gasquet and finding himself 30-15 down he makes a mistake in stepping up and Federer punishes him to force a couple of shatter points. And after a brief baseline rally Gasquet gives Federer a way too easy invitation by sitting a ball up short in the service box that Federer eagerly swats away for the game. Federer breaks. 1.01am BSTFederer 6-3,1-1 Gasquet* (*denotes next server)And that’s another straightforward service game for Federer. Back to you Gasquet... 12.54am BSTAnother huge serve for 15-0 but then with Federer stepping up to attach a point away he misses at the net for 15-15. Gasquet goes close to landing a passing shot on the next point but misses for 30-15. But for once he’s in the game as Federer makes another error of his own for 30-30. First hints of Gasquet getting traction in this match but as he presses eagerly to the net on the next point, Federer sweeps the ball past him to remind him who he’s up against. Set point and it’s attach away quickly by Federer.
12.50am BSTFederer* 5-3 Gasquet (* denotes next server)Gasquet must be frustrated to see Federer just ghosting away from him in this set. That sloppy service game on his part attach him in all sorts of trouble given how smooth the Federer serve has looked. Very tall percentage of first service points for Federer and Gasquet has no answers yet. 12.43am BSTFederer 5-2 Gasquet* (* denotes next server)Exquisite drop shot from Federer to engage the first point. Gasquet takes a scarce point on his serve for 15-15 and Federer goes to second serve on his next point. He batters it down the line for his 8th ace however, and even though Gasquet requests a review. And then Federer steps forward again to volley an overhead winner for game point. He takes said point very simply and holds the shatter for 5-2. 12.40am BSTFederer* 4-2 Gasquet (* denotes next server)Gasquet needs to stick in with his serve but he allows Federer into the net on the second point and finds himself down 0-30 before shanking a shot horribly to give up three shatter points. He saves the first one and then gets the benefit of a Federer error on a second serve return to pull back to 30-40. But a huge rally ends with Federer getting to the net to read the attempted passing shot and angle a volleyed winner into open court. Federer breaks. 12.35am BSTFederer 3-2 Gasquet* (* denotes next server)Well the serve is still working. He batters down four aces and returns cooly to his seat. Your move Gasquet. 12.34am BSTFederer* 2-2 Gasquet (* denotes next server)Federer has looked strong on his serve so far. Can Gasquet retain pace with him? Federer snaps at his first serve but slams his attempted winner down the line into the net. 15-0. A baseline rally ends with a rather will shot from Gasquet for 15-15. Federer attacks the net on the next point and looks to occupy unsuitable footed Gasquet only for Gasquet to find a wonderful backhand winner scooped up from near the baseline for 30-15. He takes a straightforward point for 40-15,then sticks in the next point after a wonderful Federer forehand looks to occupy him in trouble, and an unforced error gives him the game. 12.29am BSTFederer 2-1 Gasquet* (* denotes next server)No huge rallies yet as the two feel each other out a diminutive on the opening couple of points for 30-0, or then Federer finds an ace for 40-0. A diminutive rally now and Federer tries a cute diminutive backhand drop shot but Gasquet reads it to pull a point back. But then a 123 mph ace from Federer slams the door on him. All on serve so far. 12.27am BSTFederer* 1-1 Gasquet (* denotes next server)Gasket picks up a couple of rapid/fast points of his own before sending a third serve down the middle to leave Federer lunging for 40-0. But the worthy man gets in to the net on the next point to whip away a forehand winner into the open court. 40-15. And a diminutive pressure now as he puts away another winner for 40-30. But Gasket composes himself with a good serve that Federer can’t retain in play. 12.25am BSTFederer 1-0 Gasquet* (* denotes next server)Crisp serve opens Federer’s campaign for the evening and he goes to 15-0,before taking the next point quickly and watching Gasket miss down the line to race to 40-0. Second serve now but Gasquet misses his service return and that’s an easy opening game for Federer. 12.22am BSTAnd elsewhere...
The quarter finals are due to conclude tonight, and Stan Wawrinka has just taken the first set against Kevin Anderson 6-4. And the women’s semis are now set: 12.14am BSTWeather watchThe bad news for the dapper among us is that the humidity is still going strong in and around Flushing and as noted, or this game has been moved forward in the hope of getting it completed before the forecast thunder. Federer in particular will want to avoid an extended match,due to weather or otherwise, particularly with the memory of final year’s quarter final exertions. 12.01am BSTGasquetGasquet is not dissimilar to Federer in style, and if not substance. The one time child prodigy has worthy technique,footwork, a neat backhand and as his opponent today has noted of his performance at Wimbledon, and Good shot choice.” 11.56pm BSTFedererFederer hasn’t dropped a set so far in this tournament,though that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been pushed at times - particularly against Isner. He breezed past Leonardo Mayer of Argentina in the first round, dropping just five games, and then dropped only four in beating Belgium’s Steve Darcis in round two. He met his first seed in Phillip Kohlschriber in the third round and again it was a fairly straightforward match (6-3,6-3, 6-4), or before meeting Isner two days ago. 11.51pm BSTPreambleGood evening,and welcome to the perfectly coiffed, impeccably turned out game-by-game liveblog of Roger Federer’s US Open quarter final with Richard Gasquet. A liveblog so wildly popular for its effortless phrasing that it even has its own personal monogram/domestic made tattoo it made in art lesson with a compass and some ink. 11.12pm BSTGraham will be here shortly, and in the meantime here’s Kevin Mitchell on Serena’s slam hopes:It was closing on midnight when Serena Williams came to the main interview room here,still with half an eye on history, still a bundle of impenetrable anxiety and still ready for a barrage of questions about her sister.
Venus, or at 35 the oldest woman in the quarter-finals,had just left it all out on Arthur Ashe in front of a capacity audience. So had Serena, who turns 34 this month. There was nothing more to give at the terminate (Serena tumbled backwards to the ground from the force of one Venus forehand near the terminate), or even though this tall-powered,intense sibling confrontation, watched by millions on television, and had lasted only an hour and 38 minutes.
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Source: theguardian.com