Federer in walkover; Berdych advances

Posted on Sep 3, 2012 in Sports | 0 comments

Roger Federer advanced to the quarterfinals in a walkover and sixth-seeded Tomas Berdych logged a three-set victory Monday at the U.S. Open.

Top-ranked, five-time champion Federer was set to play 23rd-seeded Mardy Fish in a fourth-round match when the American withdrew, citing health concerns.

“I regret that I have to withdraw from the U.S. Open for precautionary measures,” Fish said in a statement. “I was reluctant to do so, but am following medical advisement. I had a good summer and look forward to resuming my tournament schedule in the fall.”

That put Federer into a men’s-record 34th straight Grand Slam quarterfinal.

His next opponent with the Czech Republic’s Berdych, who reached his first U.S. Open quarterfinal in 10 tries by dispatching 11th-seeded Spaniard Nicolas Almagro 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, 6-1 at Armstrong Stadium.

Berdych owns a 3-3 record in his last six matches against Federer. He upended the Swiss superstar in the 2010 Wimbledon quarterfinals.

Copyright 2012 by United Press International