|
 The 32-year-old Swiss, five times the champion in New York, takes
on Spain’s 17th seed Roberto Bautista Agut for a place in the
quarter-finals, having won 24 of his 25 matches under the lights at
Flushing Meadows.
His only loss came against Tomas Berdych in the fourth round two
years ago but Federer said Bautista Agut deserves his absolute
respect.
“I’ve never played him but he's done extremely well,” Federer said.
“He doesn't miss much. He's consistent. He's got a pretty good first
serve.
“He's not the typical Spaniard with a lot of topspin. He plays
unbelievably flat actually, which is very surprising, but I'm
looking forward to the match.”
 Two youngsters will be trying to join the old man in the last eight
as seventh seed Grigor Dimitrov faces France’s Gael Monfils and
unseeded Austrian Dominic Thiem takes on Berdych, while Croatia’s
Marin Cilic meets Gilles Simon of France.
In the women’s event, Caroline Wozniacki will be hoping to build on
her win over Maria Sharapova in the previous round by taking out
Italy’s Sara Errani in the last eight.
In her first grand slam quarter-final for more than two years,
Wozniacki said she was enjoying being back on the big stage.
[to top of second column] |
“I never doubted myself,” she said. “I work hard every day. I know I have
the level to compete against anybody I can beat anyone on a good day.
“Sara will be tough and get a lot of balls back. I just have to be
aggressive at the right time.”
The 17-year-old Belinda Bencic, the youngest player to reach the
quarter-finals since another Swiss, Martina Hingis in 1997, tries to go
one round better when she plays Peng Shuai of China.
(Reporting by Simon Cambers, editing by Gene Cherry)
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
