The two rivals are still each one win away, fourth round matches needing to be played before the dream quarterfinal matchup can take shape, but last night Roger Federer said he has thought about the possibility of taking on Rafael Nadal.
“Clearly, I think we both hope it’s going to happen this time for the first time in New York,” Federer said after dispatching Adrian Mannarino, 6-3, 6-0, 6-2, in the third round late Saturday night, long after Nadal had made his way through Ivan Dodig, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3, and into the fourth round himself, where he will take on No. 22 Philipp Kohlschreiber.
“I like it like this,” the Swiss superstar said, laughing. “It does feel great, just for confidence, and I had a lot of fun out there.”
Federer, the five-time U.S. Open champion, came to Queens in an unfamiliar role. Not a favorite, not a defending champion, but not necessarily an underdog, either.
Perhaps, the best way to describe him, as the seventh seed in the U.S. Open, would be as a sleeper, still a threat.
His three opponents through the first week would attest to that, none of them able to get a set off one of the sport’s all-time greats.
After spotting Mannarino a few service holds in the opening set, Federer began lapping the Frenchman in the final match at Arthur Ashe Stadium. He toyed with Mannarino, mixing in his trademark passing shots with drop volleys, lobs, blistering serves and successful rushes to the net.
He won 14 of the match’s last 16 games, dazzling the crowd as he has done in Flushing so often over the past decade. Federer accumulated 34 winners to just 20 unforced errors, won 19 of 24 points at the net and blasted eight aces.
“I was very happy,” Federer said. “I think I was able to impose my game and at times overpower him, at times mix it up, and then serve well when I had to focus.”
Federer — a five-time U.S. Open champion, has looked more like the player who has 17 career grand slam titles and has won 15 slams over seven years than the one who entered the tournament ranked seventh in the world — was eliminated in the second round at Wimbledon and has failed to reach a grand slam final this season for the first time since 2002.
Of course, stiffer challenges await, starting with Robredo, and likely continuing with Nadal in the quarterfinals — the match everyone has pointed to in anticipation since the brackets were released, a match Federer said he hopes will happen.