By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, August 30, 2019
NEW YORK—Air space above Arthur Ashe Stadium opened to a spotless sky.
Then Roger Federer lit it up with elegant elevation.
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After dropping the first set of his first two matches for the first time his Grand Slam history, Federer restored order with a dynamic 6-2, 6-2, 6-1, dismantling of Dan Evans flying into his record-extending 18th US Open round of 16.
“I really enjoyed myself out here today—beautiful sky,” Federer told ESPN’s Brad Gilbert afterward. “I definitely think this court is playing much faster than at night and indoors. That’s the key to staying around—adjusting to the different conditions and humidity and heat that makes the ball travel differently. I was able to handle that well.”
Facing the world No. 58 who spent some time practicing with Federer in Switzerland earlier this year, the third-seeded Swiss turned this day session clash into shot-making clinic.
Federer fired 48 winners on 87 points won—cracking nearly seven times as many winners as his opponent in a comprehensive 80-minute thrashing.
It was a restoration day for Federer, who dropped the opening set of his first two matches for the first time in his Grand Slam career.
"I think what matters the most for me is that I am in the third round, after all, after those two sort of slow starts," Federer told the media. "Give myself another opportunity to do better, and I did. You almost tend to forget what happened and you move forward. You're, like, I actually can go through, you know, three sets in a row playing really good tennis.
"I showed that also in the last couple of matches. Today was good. You know, different conditions. I was able to adjust and take care of business. So it was good."
Exploiting quicker court conditions—and an opponent who could not hurt him on serve or backhand—Federer outclassed Evans booking a spot in his 66th Grand Slam fourth round.
Next up, a date with either 15th-seeded David Goffin or Pablo Carreno Busta for a trip to his 13th Flushing Meadows quarterfinal.
“Tough match—both really are quality baseliners,” Federer said. “I played David in the finals in Halle recently and Carreno Busta has been out recently with injury. I’m looking forward to it and I don’t know I expect it to be tough not like today anyway.”
The day began with Federer embracing former NBA all star Kobe Bryant, who was at net for the coin toss.
Then Federer, a self-described Chicago Bulls fan during Michael Jordan’s days, unleashed his all-court press.
Seventy of Federer’s 102 career titles have come on hard court, which rewards his athleticism, all-court aggression and ability to shift spins and bend the ball into obscure areas of the court. He showed it all today converting seven of 14 break-point chances.
Growing up, Evans looked up to former Wimbledon semifinalist Tim Henman, who occasionally played doubles with the young Federer. Evans dug out a slick forehand volley that would make Tiger Tim proud erasing three break points in a dynamic fourth game to level.
Probing the Briton’s serve again, Federer floated forward and feathered a stealth drop volley winner for another break point. Blocking back a return that drew Evans in, Federer slashed a forehand pass breaking for 4-2.
The five-time champion required just 27 minutes to take the opening set from his sometime practice partner.
Evans effort to serv-and-volley was admirable but proved effective as trying to leap the Unisphere in a single bound. Federer repelled successive serve-and-volley attempts with clean return winners then whipped a forehand into the corner breaking at love for 3-1.
In full flight, Federer soared through 12 consecutive points elevating to 4-1. Federer zapped a flat forehand winner into the corner for his 17th straight point on serve stamping his fourth straight love hold for 5-2.
The second set was artful obliteration. Federer fired 20 winners to none for his beleaguered opponent dispensing six shutouts in eight games snatching a two-set lead after just 54 minutes.
Nick Kyrgios called Federer's chip return and slice backhand one of his best weapons after bowing to the five-time champion at the 2018 US Open. Evans said the unsettling variation of the Swiss' slice neutered his attempt to create opportunities in rallies.
"It just nullifies everything, you know," Evans said. "Because normally it's like all back and forth. And then just slows everything down and it almost gets you to go and hit the shot. To the average sports fan, they'd probably see a slow ball and go, Right, I'm going to crack that.
"To 90 percent of the people on the tour that's what they try and do. And there's so much on it, doesn't go the way they want it to go and it's good variation."
The 29-year-old Birmingham native summoned signs of life breaking Federer for the first time when the Swiss scattered a forehand to end the third game of the third set.
Snuffing out any hope of a comeback, Federer scored his sixth break for a 3-1 lead when Evans scattered a double fault.