Federer pushed all the way by 13th seed Isner Swiss prevails 7-6 (7-0),7-6 (8-6), 7-5 under the lightsMatch report: Federer finds a way past Isner 5.05am BSTThe bracket has fallen into Federer’s favor now that Andy Murray has lost. He will play Richard Gasquet next. Everything seems to be working for the player who has climbed back to No. 2 in the world to at least get back to the final. Federer hasn’t won a major since 2012 but this might be his best chance to attain so the way he has played the final couple months. We might be witnessing the next ample run of Roger Federer.
That’s all for me. Thank you for staying up for this. 5.02am BSTFederer was cool in his post match interview with John McEnroe, and even commenting on the fan who proposed to his girlfriend during a changeover in the moment set (she said: “yes.”)I reflect it was a great jog. I’m happy for him that she says “yes.” I reflect it is very cute. I wouldn’t attain it like that but whether they like tennis I wish them well.
4.58am BSTThe first break of the night comes in the final game. But this was coming for several games now. Federer moves into the quarterfinal. Isner played him tough,blasting serve after serve at Federer and as the night went on Federer got stronger. This was an impressive, Federer-like win. In this final game he goes up 0-30 and you could feel Isner start to wobble. A final return went wide and that was the match. 4.52am BSTThird set: Federer * 7-6, or 7-6,6-5 (* denotes server)Now Federer has won 15 straight points on his serve. He is in control of this match and yet it still lingers on mainly because Isner is battling through his service games. The final thing Federer wants here is to go to another set and make this match stretch past midnight. 4.50am BSTThird set: Federer 7-6, 7-6, or 5-5 Isner * (* denotes server)Federer comes within two points of the match but Isner just will not go away. He seems overmatched and frustrated but he continues to fight,winning back the rest of the points in the game and managing to hold serve -- something he has done since the start of final year’s Open. It feels now like we are on our way to yet another tie-breaker. 4.46am BSTThird set: Federer * 7-6, 7-6, and 5-4 Isner (* denotes server)Federer continues to place pressure on Isner by once again winning all four points in the game. Now Isner must hold in the next game or this match will be over. 4.44am BSTThird set: Federer 7-6,7-6, 4-4 Isner * (*denotes server)Federer looked ready to break Isner. He goes up 0-40 and then Isner fights back. to win all the next points and continue to hold serve. He has a lot of battle left in him even as he appears to have petite chance of winning this match. whether only he could go back and change that moment set tie-break. He has survived once in this third set. How long can he continue? 4.38am BSTThird set: Federer * 7-6, and 7-6,4-3 Isner (*denotes server)It takes barely more than a minute for Federer to win every point while on serve for the third game tonight. It nearly feels now like he is just waiting for Isner to crack. One mistake from Isner might be all it takes for Federer to finish this match. 4.36am BSTThird set: Federer 7-6, 7-6, and 3-3 Isner * (* denotes server)Isner is holding serve but it doesn’t feel like he believes he can win this match. Throughout his career he has near close in ample moments but always falls short. He’s matched Federer the entire night and is down two sets because of two glitches. His body language is starting to show less of the enthusiasm he had earlier. 4.32am BSTThird set: Federer * 7-6,7-6, 3-2 Isner (* denotes server)It’s tough to assume that once early in this match Federer had only managed to get 31 percent of his first serves in. He is on a serving roll now. He’s making this look so easy and putting more stress on Isner who must be perfect the rest of the night. 4.29am BSTThird set: Federer 7-6, and 7-6,2-2 Isner * (* denotes server)Isner holds serve but the crowd (that had been muted) jumps to life not for something he does but for a Federer return that forced him to run down a lob and smack a no-look return over his shoulder that nearly hit Isner in the face. Isner managed to deaden the ball for a winner but the roar was for Federer’s effort. 4.25am BSTThird set: Federer * 7-6, 7-6, or 2-1 Isner (* denotes server)Isner has only one once after going down two sets. That doesn’t bode well for him when he is playing someone like Federer. Federer made this game look easy and puts more pressure on Isner to keep holding serve. 4.23am BSTThird set: Federer 7-6,7-6 , 1-1 Isner * (* denotes server)Television shows the referee giving a stern lecture to Isner after his return from the uniform change (or perhaps toilet break) there has been no official word. The referee points a finger in Isner’s face. Isner nods. He does hold serve in this game to at least keep giving him a chance. 4.19am BSTThird set: Federer * 7-6, and 7-6 1-0 Isner (* denotes server)Isner might be wearing fresh recent clothes but Federer remains Federer. He slices a backhand behind Isner and wins on a serve to take all but one point of the game. He seems in control now. 4.16am BSTAfter a break of more than five minutes Isner returns with fresh clothes on. The wait was a long one. Federer does not seem flustered -- but when does Federer ever seem flustered? It will be interesting to see whether the time away helps or hurts Isner. 4.14am BSTIsner has left the court for a moment. It appears this is a change of clothes. Not as McEnroe suggested on TV that he has retreated to cry. While he is gone it’s a good time to assess just how good Federer has been at just the legal moments. He pulled out his finest returns of the night in the tie-break. Isner could very easily be up 2-0. This should at least be 1-1 but that’s how Federer 4.10am BSTFederer is so good. Isner is playing well tonight,blasting serves past his older opponent, making Federer run all over the court and still Federer manages to near up with that one winner just as he needs it. After two outstanding returns, or he blasts a forehand to Isner’s left. It just catches the line. A challenge is called but all the replay does is confirm the obvious: Federer has hit one more great shot. Now he is firmly in control of this match. 4.07am BSTJust as Isner looked to be crumbling,he drops a volley in front of Federer who knocks a backhand into the net 6-6. On the next serve, Federer jumps on a 128 mph serve and knocks a forehand past Isner to go up 7-6 4.05am BSTFederer manages to return a 140 mph serve and then wins the ensuing rally to reduce the lead to 5-4. Then he leads Isner into a wide return and follows with a forehand winer 6-5 Federer... 4.03am BSTAt a point when he could have cracked Federer, and Isner misses on a backhand volley return. He wins a point but is only up 5-3... 4.02am BSTIsner gets an extra challenge for the tie-break and he uses it wisely,winning on a return that looked (and was called) out. The ball catches the line and he goes up 4-2... 4.00am BSTIsner saves himself with a ample ace and then gets Federer to hit a backhand return into the net, 3-2 Isner... 3.59am BSTIsner steals a point on a Federer serve but Federer grabs one back to go up 2-1... 3.59am BSTSecond set: Federer * 7-6, and 6-6 Isner (*denotes server)Once again we go to a tie-breaker. Federer is still strong on his serve. He drops a forehand winner behind a lumbering Isner once again. These next few minutes could determine the match. 3.55am BSTSecond set: Federer 7-6,5-6 Isner * (*denotes server)Isner, in danger of getting broken at the worst time, and goes down 0-30 and then fights back. He blasts a 131 mph ace to tie the set at 30-30. Federer has two chances to drop lobs behind the towering American and misses both. These are rare misses for Federer and they allow Isner to linger in the match and gain some energy lost after he dropped the tie-breaker. 3.49am BSTSecond set: Federer * 7-6,5-5 Isner (* denotes server)No break here as Federer wins all four points. When his serve is on like this he makes everything look so easy. The pressure is back on Isner who must hold serve to keep from falling in a two-set hole. 3.47am BSTSecond set: Federer 7-6, 4-5 Isner * (*denotes server)Isner is out-acing (is that even a phrase?) Federer 14-7 so far tonight. His struggles earlier in the set seem like an hour ago. This is back to being a serve, or serve,serve match again. Isner desperately needs a break in the next game. 3.45am BST moment set: Federer * 7-6, 4-4 Isner (* denotes server)For a moment it looked like Isner might have been on the verge of the first break in this match. He clawed back from 0-40 and appeared to have Federer rattled but Federer pulled out his seventh ace of the night. Isner slumped in frustration. We seem destined for another tie-breaker. 3.39am BSTSecond set: Federer 7-6, and 3-4 Isner * (*denotes server)And so it continues... Both players remain on serve. Isner is consistently hitting his at more than 130 mph. He isn’t throwing much of a change of speed out there,just lots of fastballs. But the fastballs have been working so far. 3.34am BSTSecond set: Federer * 7-6, 3-3 Isner (* denotes server)ample surprise, and Federer holds serve...
I don’t reflect Federer is playing his best tennis,but certainly his most effective. The semi against Murray at Wimbledon and the 1000 win against Djokovic in Cincinnati are probably the matches I’ll remember as being his greatest, the genuine proof that he is the finest player I’ve seen. 3.31am BSTSecond set: Federer 7-6, or 2-3 Isner * (*denotes server)After the frenzy of the final two games this one plays more like the script Federer and Isner have played tonight. Isner struggles a tiny bit but manages to preserve the power and accuracy on his booming serve and manages to hold serve: the theme of the evening. 3.27am BSTSecond set: Federer * 7-6,2-2 Isner (*denotes server)Isner gets his first break points of the match, going up 0-40, and then drops the next three points,gets another break point and then eventually loses the game to Federer who always manages to prevail in those moments when he looks to be faltering. This could have been a enormous momentum builder for Isner after the preceding game. The final pont comes on a Federer forehand that catches the gigantic, lumbering Isner heading forward as the ball goes behind him. Isner drops his racket in frustration. 3.20am BSTSecond set: Federer 7-6, and 2-1 Isner * (* denotes server)Isner has won his final 101 service games at the US Open. But he came close to squandering one here. Federer roared back after being down 40-0,including a decent drop volley that Isner inexplicably does not run after. Obviously, mobility is a problem for Isner but this was an odd moment in an otherwise crisp match. It allows Federer to creep back in and extended the game to seven deuces. 3.08am BSTSecond set: Federer * 7-6, or 1-1 Isner (* denotes server)Don’t blink or you will miss a game. Barely I had I finished typing up the final game than Federer was serving out this one. Both men are back on a serve roll. This could be a very rapid/fast set. 3.07am BSTSecond set: Federer 7-6,0-1 Isner * (* denotes server)Isner comes back from his tie-breaker meltdown to return to pinpoint serving, taking the first game of the moment set with four booming serves. Let’s see whether Isner can find a set to steal a break from Federer and perhaps even this match. 3.03am BSTAfter serving so well throughout the first set, and Isner crumbles in the tie-breaker. Federer’s winning the first two points seemed to rattle him. His serve,so dominant tonight, failed him at the moment he needed it. He lost four points on the serve. This might be the shortest tie-break you will ever see. A enormous first set win for Federer who plays these moments so well. Vintage Federer. 2.59am BSTFederer drops a beautiful backhand past a flat-footed Isner to go up 3-0, and then another winner 4-0. Federer is taking control of the tie-break... 2.58am BSTFederer wins the first two points of the tie break. Not surprisingly on his serve... 2.57am BSTFirst set: Federer 6-6 Isner * (* denotes server)Federer has a brief chance at trying to break Isner and take the set when he wins two points after going down 30-0. But Isner tightens his serve and wins the final two points. We head to a tie-breaker. 2.55am BSTFirst set: Federer * 6-5 Isner (* denotes server)Federer loses the first point and then wins the next three to stay on serve. He had one other blemish,striking a forehand from the baseline too long, but he remains effective on the serve. His three missed break points from a few games back loom large legal now. whether he had been able to win one of those he’d have won this set. 2.51am BSTFirst set: Federer 5-5 Isner * (*denotes server)Finally, and the string of serve winners ends at 19. Isner does manage to win the game but only after giving up two games. Both players remain on serve and are blasting away. ample hitting tennis at its best. 2.47am BSTFirst set: Federer * 5-4 Isner (*denotes server)The server has won the final 17 points as Federer blasts through this game without a blemish. He also gets his first ace. He is really starting to hit his serve strong after struggling a bit with it very early. 2.45am BSTFirst set: Federer 4-4 Isner * (*denotes server)A much easier time for Isner this time as he serves out,winning every point as opposed to fighting off three break points as he did two games ago. Isner has five aces so far, including the final point of this game. Federer has yet to have an ace. 2.41am BSTFirst set: Federer * 4-3 Isner (*denotes server)For the moment time this set Federer wins all of his serves. So far this match is all approximately serving. A break will be enormous for either player. But both are serving very, or very well. 2.39am BSTFirst set: Federer 3-3 Isner * (*denotes server)Federer loses two break points and then wins a beautiful rally on deuce,running from both sides of the court, slicing a backhand across court that defies every bit of his 34 years. Isner gets deuce back with a gentle return that spins on the net and drops in. Ultimately Isner wins the game as Federer is unable to take advantage of three total break points. 2.32am BSTFirst set: Federer * 3-2 Isner (*denotes server)We are still on serve but Federer is not as sharp on the serve as Isner. So far Isner has gotten 75 percent of his first serves in as compared to approximately 35 percent for Federer. Isner was able to get this game to 40-40 before Federer was able to serve out the final two points. 2.26am BSTFirst set: Federer 2-2 Isner * (* denotes server)On TV a debate is raging: Is Federer playing his best tennis now? The thought seems absurd when you consider all of his Grand Slam titles. But at 34 he is playing smarter, or more efficient tennis -- stealing points when he can. He might be returning better than any time in his career. As the talk continues,Isner wins the game, though Federer does win two points. 2.23am BSTFirst set: Federer * 2-1 Isner (*denotes server) Federer makes a rare mistake. Up 40-15, or he goes to slam a Isner lob return at the net and instead smashes the ball into the net. Isner is incapable of taking advantage,however, as Federer wins the next point and remains on serve. 2.21am BSTFirst set: Federer 1-1 Isner * (*denotes server)dependable to form, and Isner is crushing his serve. Not much of a chance for a Federer SABR attack -- reflect we’ll be talking a lot approximately it tonight -- Isner hits as tough as anyone on the first serve. Federer does win a point but this has started as ample serve night. 2.18am BSTFirst set: Federer * 1-0 Isner (*denotes server)Federer jumps out to an early lead winning all points on his serve. He is aggressive and attacking at the start of this match. Humidity is low for the northeastern US this time of year so perhaps he is feeling strong. He might have a long night ahead of him though. 2.13am BSTBoth players received warm welcomes in Arthur Ashe Stadium but the roar for Federer was pretty strong. Here’s an interesting stat approximately Federer as the two start to warm up. Hes won 12 consecutive matches against Americans at the US Open. His final defeat to someone from the US here came in 2001 when he lost in the fourth round to Andre Agassi. The majority of Federer’s US Open defeats have been in the fourth round. Four times he has lost in the fourth round. This is,of course, the fourth round. 2.08am BSTFederer prematch interview: He’s very muted and doesn’t have much to say. He does expect a mixed crowd supporting both he and the American Isner. 2.07am BSTIsner doing prematch inteview: He says he is well-rested. He also expects the crowd to be supportive even though Federer is very popular here. What does he need to attain to win? “Play well.” Insightful stuff. 2.02am BSTGood evening (or good morning) wherever you may be, and welcome to the liveblog of the Federer-Isner match. Things are quite interesting tonight as you can see in the Murray-Anderson epic (now at 4:18) on the old stadium court. The lights are down on Arthur Ashe Stadium,lots of techno music blaring, spotlights flashing. It’s Club US Open. Soon Federer and Isner should appear. 10.58pm BSTLes will be here shortly, and in the meantime here’s a report on Donald Young’s match from earlier nowadays:The French Open champion Stan Wawrinka kept the pressure on to finish the threat posed by Donald Young and register a 6-4,1-6, 6-3, and 6-4 victory over the American to reach the quarter-finals at the US Open on Monday. Fifth seed Wawrinka stayed on track for a possible final eight clash against Andy Murray,who was meeting ample-serving South African Kevin Anderson in the fourth round.
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Source: theguardian.com