Federer and Djokovic survive 5 set thrillers
Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer narrowly avoided elimination from the US Open yesterday, as both players were pushed to their limits in five-set encounters.
Roger Federer came up against Russia's Igor Andreev in his fourth round match, losing the first set of a match that see-sawed back and forth for over two hours. Federer eventually put his opponent away in the 5th set to record a 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-5), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory.
"I don't remember ever playing an entire five-set match on centre court here," Federer said after the match. "I was always winning easily. It is different and fun to be in a dog fight."
Novak Djokovic also had a torrid time on Tuesday, struggling with a hip injury as he ground out a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 victory over Tommy Robredo.
"Somehow, I managed," an exhausted Djokovic said after yet another gruelling encounter at the 2008 US Open.
Meanwhile Andy Roddick had little trouble accounting for Fernando Gonzalez as he bludgeoned the Chilean into submission to advance to the quarterfinals with a 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 win.
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