Roger Federer romps, Andy Murray struggles in US Open sweatshop

Five-time champion Roger Federer defied 32-degree heat and crushing humidity to reach the US Open last 16 as potential semi-final rival Andy Murray almost wilted in the New York sweatshop.

Top seed Federer, bidding to be the first six-time winner in 87 years, defeated Spanish 25th seed Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 yesterday in a shade over two hours to make the last 16 for the 12th successive year.

The Swiss next faces either American 23rd seed Mardy Fish or Gilles Simon, the French 16th seed.

In stark contrast, third-seeded Murray, the 2008 US Open runner-up to Federer, needed almost four hours to clinch a 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) victory over 30th-seeded Spanish left-hander Feliciano Lopez.

Olympic champion Murray will next face 15th-seeded Milos Raonic, who defeated American wildcard James Blake and 6-3, 6-0, 7-6 (7/3) on the back of 29 aces to become the first Canadian to make the last 16 in 24 years.

Murray, four times a Grand Slam runner-up, had lost only one set in six prior matches against Lopez but had to come back from trailing in all three tie-breakers on Saturday.

Federer only faced one break point against Verdasco, a player he has now defeated five times in five meetings.

"I was never really in big trouble on my service games," he said.

"The heat and wind weren't really a problem, but Fernando keeps you guessing, he's a great shot-maker."

Murray's 250th career match victory on hard courts, and his seventh in seven meetings with Lopez, came when the Spaniard netted a backhand.

"This was the first match I had played in this humidity for a while so it was tough," Murray said. "I would like to be in slightly better form but these matches have helped with that."

Eleventh seed Nicolas Almagro kept Spanish hopes alive when he reached the fourth round for the first time with a 7-6 (7/3), 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/2), 6-1 win over American wildcard Jack Sock.

... contd.

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