Roger Federer will live to fight another day. The Swiss maestro survived a major scare on Tuesday, beating Frances Tiafoe in five tough sets to advance to the second round of the 2017 US Open. Federer battled back from a set down to record the gritty 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 win in a match that lasted two hours and 37 minutes. With the victory, the 36-year-old improved to 17-0 in first-round action in New York.
Next up for Federer is a round-of-64 clash with Mikhail Youzhny. The 19-time Grand Slam champion will be licking his chops at the prospect of facing Youzhny as he has fared extremely well against the Russian in his career. The five-time US Open champion has won all 16 of his previous meetings with Youzhny. Talk about dominance. Federer eased past Youzhny in their last meeting at Dubai in 2015, trouncing him in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1. They have faced other four times in Grand Slam tournaments before but never at Flushing Meadows.
Mikhail Youzhny barged into the second round of the US Open with a solid 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Blaz Kavcic on Wednesday. It was an impressive performance from the 35-year-old who needed three hours and six minutes to oust the Slovenian.
Youzhny, who improved to 4-0 against Kavcic, blasted 11 aces and won 67 percent of his first serve points. What proved to be the difference in the contest, though, was his excellent return. Youzhny won 45 percent of his receiving points in the first round against Kavcic with the Russian converting eight of his 14 break point opportunities.
Things are bound to get tougher, though, for Youzhny as standing in his way in the next round is the great Roger Federer. He is 0-4 in his career against Federer in Grand Slam matches. Add to that the fact that Federer has never lost before the third round at the US Open. Youzhny will take comfort in the knowledge, however, that Federer is not playing some excellent tennis at the moment. He committed a whopping 56 errors in his first-round win against Tiafoe.
Writer’s Prediction
Federer (-3,000) overcomes Youzhny in straight sets to reach the third round.
