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 Two David v Goliath matchups, however, ended all too predictably as
97th ranked British qualifier Johanna Konta saw her Flushing Meadows
joy ride ended 7-5 6-3 by fifth seeded Czech Petra Kvitova and 68th
ranked American Donald Young ran out of comeback magic in a 6-4 1-6
6-3 6-4 loss to fifth seed Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland.
Tomas Berdych's time in Flushing Meadows also came to an end with
the sixth seeded Czech falling 2-6 6-3 6-4 6-1 to 12th seeded
Frenchman Richard Gasquet.
Seven times before the six-foot, eight-inch (2.03m) Anderson had
progressed to the fourth round of a grand slam but never beyond
until his 7-6(5) 6-3 6-7(2) 7-6(0) victory over third seeded Scot
Murray.
Murray had battled his way back from two sets down in the second
round against France's Adrian Mannarino, but could not work another
miracle against the 14th-ranked, 29-year-old, who swept the final
tiebreak 7-0.
"That's obviously something that is disappointing to lose," said
Murray after watching his run of reaching 18 consecutive grand slam
quarter-finals come to an end. "That's many years' work that's gone
into building that sort of consistency.
"Also to lose a match like that, that was over four hours, tough
obviously after a couple of tough matches earlier in the tournament,
as well. It's a hard one to lose, for sure."
Second seed Federer also came face-to-face with one of the ATP
Tour's biggest hitters and coolly defused six-foot, 10-inch (2.08m)
Isner's booming serve to claim a 7-6(0) 7-6(6) 7-5 victory.
Federer held his own from the service line to thwart Isner, never
losing his serve, and used his returning skills to derail a pair of
long streaks enjoyed by the American.
The 34-year-old Federer closed out the two hour, 39 minute
fourth-round match by breaking Isner's serve, ending the American's
string of 108 consecutive service holds at the U.S. Open.
His perfect scoreline in the opening set tiebreak snapped an even
longer Isner streak.
In 429 tiebreakers played by Isner, he had never dropped one 7-0.
"Seven-love obviously is a pretty good score against John," said
Federer.
Second seed Simona Halep overcame a thigh injury, baking heat and
finally big-hitting German Sabine Lisicki to also reach the U.S.
Open quarters for the first time.
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It was Labor Day in the United States but it was certainly no
holiday for Halep who had to work for her spot in the last eight,
needing two hours and 38 minutes under a broiling sun to dispatch
Lisicki 6-7(6) 7-5 6-2 and reach the U.S. Open quarter-finals for
the first time.
Waiting for the Romanian in the last eight is two-time U.S. Open
finalist Victoria Azarenka, who advanced with a comfortable 6-3 6-4
win over American Varvara Lepchenko.
After a couple of days of relief, the heat returned to Flushing
Meadows turning the fourth round clash between Halep and Lisicki
into a test of survival.
After dropping the opening set Halep called out the trainer to have
treatment on her left thigh and at the end of the second the players
left the court when the heat rule came into effect, but through it
all the exhausted Romanian was able to gut out a victory.
Her left leg heavily strapped, a wounded Halep sensed her
opportunity when Lisicki began to cramp in the third set and stretch
between every point.
Halep, who converted 10 of 11 break chances, claimed the most
crucial one to go ahead 4-2 and then held serve to break her 24th
seeded opponent again and clinch a spot in the last eight.
Italy's Flavia Pennetta returned to the quarter-finals for the
fourth consecutive year easing past 2011 U.S. Open winner Samantha
Stosur of Australia 6-4 6-4.
(Editing by Andrew Both/Amlan Chakraborty)
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