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Superman Federer flies towards record
Written by staff   
Thursday, 29 January 2009 00:58

Swiss superman Roger Federer flew towards a record-equalling 14th Grand Slam in an extraordinary display on Tuesday as last year's winner Novak Djokovic sensationally withdrew from his quarter-final.

Federer, a three-time champion here, completely outplayed 20-year-old Juan Martin del Potro 6-3, 6-0, 6-0 to make his 19th consecutive Major semi-final, where he will meet old rival Andy Roddick.

"I didn't expect a result like this. This is not usual," Federer said.

"I don't think Juan Martin was at his very best tonight, otherwise it would have been much closer."

Federer was taken to five sets by Tomas Berdych in the previous round but he was immediately comfortable against del Potro, taking the break 3-1 and then the first set by wrong-footing the towering Argentine on the baseline.

The Swiss was firing and he dropped a sharply spinning backhand and a classy half-volley for the first break in set two, then faked a drop shot for set points which he converted with an ace.

The exhibition display turned embarrassing by the third set as Federer went 4-0 for the loss of just two points and closed out with a service winner in just one hour and 20 minutes.

"When all of a sudden it clicks, it's a nice feeling," Federer said.

"I tried out a few things and they all seemed to work. He goes down and I go up, the difference is huge sometimes."

Earlier Djokovic pulled out after two-and-a-half hours of toil in 35 C (95 F) heat, looking pale and citing cramp and the effects of his early-hours finish against Marcos Baghdatis in his previous match.

The Serb has now withdrawn from three Grand Slam matches after the 2006 French Open and 2007 Wimbledon, earning a sarcastic rebuke by Roddick at last year's US Open.

However the American, who was leading 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 2-6, 1-2, was full of sympathy for his opponent who failed to defend his only Grand Slam title.

"I feel for Novak because he worked so hard to win the title and for him not to get a fair chance to defend it, it's too bad," he said.

Local media said Melbourne was set for its worst heatwave since 1908 with temperatures topping 40 C for four consecutive days.

"Conditions were extreme today. It did affect me more than him, as you could see," said Djokovic.

"But that was the situation. I just have to cope with it."

The slimmed-down and revitalised Roddick has now reached his first Grand Slam final since 2007 just weeks after hooking up with celebrated coach Larry Stefanki.

The 26-year-old former number one is still looking to add to his only Major title, won at the US Open in 2003.

"I'm probably the least favoured of anybody to make it to the semis here. I'm just going to keep going and keep my head down and keep working," Roddick said.

"I'm not going to get too excited. I'm just going to go about it and try to work through it."

Federer lost in the semis here last year and was beaten in the Roland Garros and Wimbledon finals by Rafael Nadal, who ended his record 237-week stint as world number one.

But the Swiss rescued his season by winning his fifth US Open title to move to 13 Grand Slam victories, one fewer than American great Pete Sampras.

"You have to ask Roger what happened. I couldn't do nothing in the match. He played like the world number one," del Potro said.

Top seed Nadal faces Gilles Simon and last year's runner-up Jo-Wilfried Tsonga plays Fernando Verdasco in the second set of quarter-finals on Wednesday.
 
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