Rodger Federer’s attempts to lift a record 18th Grand Slam title looked incredibly easy at the start of the tournament but, after the withdrawal of opponent, Mardy Fish, in the fourth round of the US Open this week, it now seems there is nothing to stop the Swiss master.
Federer’s path in this tournament has been one of the easiest of his career and comes at a perfect time for the 30-year-old. Seeded first last week, Federer was placed in the top half of the draw with Andy Murray, a formidable opponent that took him apart in the final of the Olympic Games last month.
Yet Federer would rather face Murray in the semi-finals of the US Open than Rafael Nadal, who would have been third seed in the event, and second favourite in the latest odds for the Slam, had the Spaniard recovered from his knee injury in time to compete this summer.
Murray has already faced a gruelling third-round clash with Feliciano Lopez that lasted almost four hours, while Novak Djokovic must potentially bypass David Ferrer – winner of Olympic bronze instead of the Serb – in the other semi-final.
Federer’s bye into the quarter-finals has therefore come at a time when all three of his main competitors are battling hard just to reach Sunday’s clash at Arthur Ashe Stadium. While Murray, Djokovic, and Ferrer all wade through fourth-round ties, Federer will have his feet up and is no doubt already plotting his route to the final.
Rarely is a bye so generously rewarded at a Grand Slam, and Fish will be devastated that he cannot play in front of his home crowd against the Number One seed. But for Federer, this potential fourth-round obstacle has turned into a blessing, one that the Swiss will take full advantage of.
Novak Djokovic remains the 6/5 favourite for the title, according to the tennis betting odds; Federer comes in at 9/4.
