Roger Federer wins without convincing

Photo: Andres Kudacki Associated Press
This was a fight more difficult than expected for Roger Federer, who showed a record of 16-0 against the Russian Mikhail Youzhny.

New York — Switzerland’s Roger Federer has once again needed five sets to win his match to the International of the United States, beating the Russian Mikhail Youzhny 1-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 Thursday.

This was a fight more difficult than expected for Federer, who showed a record of 16-0 against Youzhny and 16-0 when he is playing a game of the second round at Flushing Meadows.

Federer has won five times in a row in this tournament from 2004 to 2008, and he has been a finalist on two occasions.

36-year-old Federer did not appear in his plate for a good part of this duel. He has committed 68 unforced errors and has been slowed by a sore back. Youzhny, a former player in the top 10, for its part, has been struggling with cramp in one leg, significantly decreasing his level of play during the past two rounds.

During his match for the first round on Monday night, the Swiss had needed five sets to defeat the American 19-year-old Frances Tiafoe.

By virtue of his 80th victory in New York, Federer has broken the tie that lingered with Andre Agassi and has made one more step in the direction of the record held by Jimmy Connors, who has signed 98 victories in the International of the United States.
 

Nadal passes

The favourite Rafael Nadal has lost the first round, but he recovered to defeat the Japanese Taro Daniel 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. The Spanish has put a bit of time to understand the style of play of his opponent. Daniel is never accessed in the third round of a major tournament. Nadal has won his last 11 matches of the second round at Flushing Meadows after losing two times in a row, in 2003 and 2004. It has won 15 major titles, including two in New York, in 2010 and 2013. Nadal will now iron with the Argentine Leonardo Mayer.

The heads fall

The Bulgarian and seventh-seeded Grigor Dimitrov is now the newest member of the world’s top 10 to make it show the output so that it is tilted in the second round in front of the Russian Andrey Rublev.

19 years old and ranked 53rd in the world, Rublev came out on top with sleeves 7-5, 7-6 (3), 6-3 to reach the third round of a major tournament for the first time.

His elimination means that there are not more than four members of the world top 10 of the ATP competing at Flushing Meadows. The British Andy Murray, the no. 2 Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka, no. 4, the Serbian Novak Djokovic, no. 5, and the Japanese Kei Nishikori, no. 10, were all absent due to injuries.

German Alexander Zverev, no. 6, was eliminated on Wednesday by the Croatian Borna Coric in a match of the second round.

Rafael Nadal is expected to cross swords with the Japanese Taro Daniel in the second match of the evening program at the stadium Arthur-Ashe.

The Czech and 15th-seeded Tomas Berdych saw his adventure in new york to end. Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov has won their match of the second round 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (5), 6-2.

The Argentine Juan Martín del Potro has reached the third round thanks to a victory of 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 (3) against the Spanish Adrian Menendez-Maceiras.

Pliskova in three sets

The queen of women’s tennis, Karolina Pliskova reached the third round thanks to a win of 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the face of the American Nicole Gibbs.

After a early tough match, Pliskova has knocked down the vapour in order to avoid becoming the fifth player among the seven seeded teams to be eliminated.

The Czech has still a lot of work to do if it wants to remain a global leader. She must reach the final or win the title if Garbine Muguruza tilts in the semi-finals.

The Romanian Simona Halep, second-seeded, the Danish Caroline Wozniacki, no. 5, the German and defending champion Angelique Kerber, no. 6, and the British Johanna Konta, no. 7, have all already suffered elimination.

Pliskova has lost in the final against Kerber last year.

Moreover, Wozniacki has made known his displeasure towards the organisers of the tournament for the preferential treatment reserved to the Russian Maria Sharapova.

After his defeat against Ekaterina Makarova on court no. 17 on Wednesday night, the former no. 1 in the world, said the network extra skills Bladet TV that she believed that it was “unacceptable” that the two matches of Sharapova have been presented at the stadium Arthur-Ashe.

Sharapova has received an invitation from the organisers to participate in the International United States. She is playing a first major tournament since the end of a suspension of 15 months for doping.

“As someone who is returning from a suspension for doping dispute all his games on the short main is something dodgy,” said Wozniacki.