Federer v Dimitrov set for US Open quarterfinals

Swiss great Roger Federer has laid down a marker by dismantling David Goffin in straight sets to reach the quarterfinals of the US Open.

Federer crushed David Goffin 6-2 6-2 6-0 to advance to the last eight and keep his bid for a record-extending 21st Grand Slam title alive.

There he will meet the resurgent Grigor Dimitrov, after the former world No.3 beat Alex de Minaur in straight sets to notch his first ever quarterfinal appearance at Flushing Meadows.

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Third seed Federer fired 10 aces among 35 winners to see off the outclassed Belgian in a speedy 80 minutes on a sunny Sunday at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The 38-year-old Swiss was at his best when it mattered most, converting nine of his 10 break point opportunities.

The only drama came early when Goffin, seeded 15th, broke Federer to take a 2-1 lead in the first set but the Swiss broke back in the next game and cruised to the finish line.

“”Sometimes these scores just happen,” Federer told reporters. “You catch a good day, the opponent doesn’t, then things happen very quickly.
“I found my groove after a while and was able to roll really. Never looked back.”

Goffin was downbeat after his ninth loss in 10 matches to Federer.

“I gave completely,” Goffin said. “Of course he was great but I gave the whole match. It’s tough to say. “But, yeah, probably my worst match against him.”

Later on Sunday, top-ranked Novak Djokovic will try to make it 12 for 12 in US Open fourth-round matches in a night match against Stan Wawrinka, a rematch of the Swiss ace’s victory in the 2016 final at Flushing Meadows.

Dimitrov rediscovers form

The Bulgarian has slumped to 78th in the world after winning only one match since Wimbledon until this week and suffering five first-round defeats in his past six tournaments.

Yet the 2017 ATP Finals champion has rediscovered his touch at the final Grand Slam of the year.

He broke De Minaur once in each set to prevail 7-5 6-3 6-4 after two hours and five minutes on court, progressing to his first major quarterfinal since last year’s Australian Open.

He enters his match-up with Federer trailing the head-to-head series 0-7, having won just two sets across those seven meetings.

“There’s not much to say other than that I’m pleased to be back on a court, pain-free and feeling really good,” Dimitrov said in his on-court interview.