Federer, Wawrinka set up all-Swiss semifinal
NEW YORK – With rain causing the final women’s quarterfinal match to run later than expected Wednesday, the USTA moved the men’s quarterfinal match between No. 5 Stan Wawrinka and No. 15 Kevin Anderson from Arthur Ashe Stadium to Louis Armstrong Stadium. That meant that the two men’s quarterfinals would play out almost simultaneously.
When Wawrinka served the first ball, empty seats were few and far between. By the time he closed out the 6-4, 6-4, 6-0 win, the stadium was two-thirds empty. Everyone had rushed to see the end of Roger Federer’s sprint past No. 12 Richard Gasquet. Federer prevailed, 6-3, 6-3, 6-1, in less than 90 minutes.
On Armstrong, Anderson double faulted to give Wawrinka the first break of the match at 3-all in the first set. Wawrinka soon fought off a break point opportunity to lead 5-3. Techno beats poured into the stadium as Federer and Gasquet prepared to take the court next door. If that was the music Federer chose to get pumped, it didn’t work for his countryman. Wawrinka squandered a break/set-point opportunity.
Playing in his first Grand Slam quarterfinal, Anderson stuck with the two-time Grand Slam champion through the first two sets. It came as no surprise, as the South African had beaten Wawrinka in their last four meetings. The second set stayed on serve through eight games.
That’s about the time the cheers from Ashe started to drown out those on Armstrong. At least a third of seats emptied, too, as fans headed over to see the five-time U.S. Open champion in action. Federer led 5-2 just 20 minutes into his match.
The fans who left missed seeing Wawrinka slice a forehand past Anderson to break at 4-4. Serving for the two-set lead, Wawrinka didn’t blink. And at that point, the rest of those holding Ashe tickets departed.
Wawrinka must have wanted to get out, too – he quickly bageled Anderson in the third set to advance to the semifinals. Moments later, Federer took a two set lead over Gasquet. He served 16 aces and won 87 percent of first-serve points in the match. He finished it off before the clock struck 9p.m. The 34-year-old has yet to drop a set in this tournament.
“I think I played a very good match, I felt the ball great from the return,” Federer said on court after the match. “My serve worked very well… I was able to stay aggressive and enjoy myself out there, so it was a great match.”
Federer dominates the overall head-to-head against Wawrinka, but Wawrinka won their most recent meeting. It was a big one: the quarterfinal at Roland Garros, which Wawrinka went on to win.
“I will for sure need to play my best tennis,” Wawrinka told reporters. “He’s playing really well so far. He loves to play… It’s going to be a big challenge. I think I’m ready.”
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Danielle Elliot is a writer for Yahoo Sports. You can find her on Twitter and Facebook.
