US Open 2013: Day 8 - Robredo stuns Federer

Federer waves goodbye to the 2013 US Open

US Open 2013: Day 8 - Robredo stuns Federer

With no disrespect to Tommy Robredo I should have titled this post Federer stuns Federer.  For as well as the Spaniard played to beat Federer 7-6(7-3) 6-3 6-4 in the fourth round in New York the deciding factor was certainly the anxious and indecisive play from the five-time champion who looked a shadow of the great player he is.

Federer held 16 break points and converted only 2 and they came when he was trailing by a break in set one.  The majority of the break chances disappeared in some terrible errors - largely unforced - or in some cases he got in a strong position only to hit straight back to the Robredo forehand and get passed.

At the key moments Federer simply had zero confidence that he could produce his best tennis and convert.  That built-in belief that great champions have in themselves, their shots and their game was just not there having been eroded away by his increasingly depressing season.

To make matters worse having not broken in sets two and three he lost his serve to love in both sets with four quick errors which can only be described as terrible tennis.

Take nothing away from Robredo who was timing the ball beautifully and made the most of the many reprieves that Federer handed him.  It is so easy to forget - as I often do - that the Spaniard has been ranked as high as 5 in the world.  While he is heading back into the top 20 Federer must fight to at least remain in the top 10.  

Women's singles round-up

Pennetta has beaten Errani, Kuznetsova and now Halep

White hot Simona Halep was meant to have a breakthrough major in New York having been red hot since Rome.  She ended up having a career best Grand Slam but falling short of a first Grand Slam quarter final.

I was delighted that the player who stopped the Romanian 21st seed was Flavia Pennetta as the experienced Italian reached her fourth US Open quarter final - but first since wrist surgery - with a 6-2 7-6(7-3) victory.

The 31 year-old former World No.10 looked superb in building a 6-2 4-2 lead against a below par Halep. With victory in sight Flavia wobbled and Halep battled back.  The 21 year-old broke twice and reached set point at 5-4 as the heavens opened.

Over 4 hours later the players returned to Louis Armstrong Pennetta came out strong and saved the set point to break, lost serve but then broke back and raced to 6-1 in the breaker as Halep faulted.  Flavia missed the missed two as nerves resurfaced but fired a backhand winner down the line on the third.

To try and reach her first Grand Slam semi-final Pennetta will face a familiar opponent and the player she won the 1999 French Open junior doubles title with: Roberta Vinci.

Vinci hit back from 1-4 in the first to get past heavy hitting compatriot Camila Giorgi and reach the last eight for a second successive year.  Vinci and Pennetta are tied at 4-4 head-to-head and I can't wait for their battle tomorrow. 

Another veteran fought through to the last eight as former World No.5 Daniela Hantuchova matched her career best showing in the Big Apple with a 6-3 5-7 6-2 defeat of American wild card Alison Riske. 

The US player came out strongly after rain halted play at 4-4 in the second but again experience was telling and the Slovak reached her first US Open quarter final for 11 years.

Men's singles round-up

As the sultry humid weather continued at Flushing Meadows Rafael Nadal has rarely look sweatier than he did during the night session and the second seed was made to sweat by a superb Philipp Kohlschreiber who took the opening set and challenged the Spaniard in sets two and three.

However Nadal characteristically produced a hard fought comeback to come through 6-7(4-7) 6-4 6-3 6-1 and reach the last eight without breaking serve. 

Nadal's compatriot David Ferrer was in trouble against former top tenner Janko Tipsarevic when the Serb held set points to lead two sets to one but the fourth seed came through 7-6(7-2) 3-6 7-5 7-6(7-3) to reach his eighth straight major quarter final.

Awaiting Ferrer in the last eight will be Richard Gasquet after the Frenchman edged through a titanic match on Court 17 against Milos Raonic 6-7(4-7) 7-6(7-4) 2-6 7-6(11-9) 7-5. 

Raonic was a point away from his first major quarter final in the fourth but after 4 hours and 40 minutes 8th seeded Gasquet booked his place in only his second Grand Slam quarter and overturned his 1-15 record in last 16 clashes.

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