Sports

Fitter, more agile Federer keeps rolling through the draw

Gael Monfils called Roger Federer the best player ever, a legend he’d brag to his unborn kids about having played. And after last year’s reset, the 17-time Grand Slam winner is back to looking like the greatest of all time at this U.S. Open.

Federer, who changed his training regimen, is as explosive and agile as he has been in years, and showed it on Tuesday night. He attacked the net, put on a 4-hour clinic and dispatched Roberto Bautista Agut, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2, to set up a quarterfinal date with the enigmatic but athletic Monfils.

“Coming to net requires a lot of agility and explosivity, and I’m happy to have that back,’’ said Federer, adding that after last year’s back woes he had what he termed a reset, putting more variety in his routines and warmups. “There’s no rocket science behind it. As long as you can train, you’re going to feel all right. But because of the issues I had last year, I had to be unbelievably careful what I did.”

“We had to cut back on a few things I usually would do but were scared to do. That wasn’t what I wanted to do. [But] if that’s what it is, and it means don’t run on the treadmill or don’t do jumps or whatever, well, there’s other ways you can train that. I’m happy that today I can do whatever and I don’t have any more setbacks. Once you can do that, then you really start to feel the benefits down the road.’’

At 33, the oldest man to rank in the top 3 since Andre Agassi in 2003, Federer is seeing those benefits, from a Wimbledon final to running his night record in Arthur Ashe Stadium to 25-1. He won 35-of-52 net approaches, pulled out his classic midair forehand, and looked fit despite the sweltering heat to earn a date versus Monfils.

“He’s one of most exciting and entertaining players out there,’’ Federer said in an on-court interview. “He’s got easy top 10 potential.’’

Federer is 7-2 against his French foe, who defends well, runs even better and is wildly unpredictable. But Monfils is playing some of the most mature tennis of his career, beating Federer 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-3 in Shanghai last year and making him work for a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 escape in Cincinnati two weeks ago.

“He’s definitely the legend of the tennis,’’ said Monfils. “Right now he’s the greatest tennis player we ever had, and for me it’s always challenging to play against him. It’s always great, because no matter what, I’ll say to my children I played against him. Even [if] I kill him.’’