Federer still in charge
NEW YORK — Even as he was giving Roger Federer fits, James Blake felt the need to shout what so many were thinking: "You're too good!"
The top-seeded Federer dropped a set and had a hard time putting away No. 5 Blake before finishing a 7-6 (7), 6-0, 6-7 (9), 6-4 victory on Thursday night at the U.S. Open to reach a record-tying 10th consecutive Grand Slam semifinal.
"The score says it all. The match could have been easier. Could have been tougher. We both missed our opportunities here and there, but that's kind of expected, because we took our chances on our shots," Federer said. "It turned out to be a thriller."
Even in the toughest of moments, Federer was so masterful that Blake and the partisan audience in Arthur Ashe Stadium showed their admiration. Some of Federer's winners were met with applause from a capacity crowd of 23,712 that included Donald Trump, Regis Philbin and Heidi Klum. Other shots made Blake acknowledge aloud how impressed he was.
"There are times you just have to say, 'Too good,' and move on," said Blake, who came into the night 0-4 against Federer, having lost all 10 sets they'd played.
"There's just too many things he does well. He doesn't panic. He plays offense unbelievably well. He plays defense better than anyone I've ever played."
Federer, the two-time defending champion, advanced to a semifinal Saturday against No. 7 Nikolay Davydenko, who dropped the first two sets in a half-empty stadium, then came back to beat No. 14 Tommy Haas 4-6, 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
The other men's semifinal will be No. 9 Andy Roddick against unseeded Mikhail Youzhny, who upset Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals Wednesday.
"I'd probably like to play Andy, I guess, but (we're) not quite there yet," Federer said. "We look like the big favorites, but we've seen what happens to favorites sometimes, so we have to be careful."
The women's semifinals Friday feature three women who've been ranked No. 1 and won at least one Grand Slam title. No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo plays No. 3 Maria Sharapova, and No. 2 Justine Henin-Hardenne plays No. 19 Jelena Jankovic.
