Federer near flawless in dismantling Gasquet
Second seed Roger Federer obliterated Richard Gasquet in the US Open quarter-finals, hitting 50 winners in a three-set victory.
Roger Federer was near flawless in dismantling Richard Gasquet in the US Open quarter-finals, setting up an all-Swiss semi against Stan Wawrinka.
While Wawrinka coasted past Kevin Anderson on Louis Armstrong Stadium, Federer lit up Arthur Ashe Stadium with a breathtaking 6-3 6-3 6-1 win over world number 12 Gasquet.
Gasquet's only two career wins over Federer came on clay courts, and Federer was simply irrepressible in earning his 15th victory over the Frenchman on Flushing Meadows' hard courts - hitting 50 winners and prevailing 82 per cent of the time he approached the net.
In contrast, Gasquet did not get a sight at a break point, and could produce only eight winners.
Gasquet got a little taste of what he was to expect from Federer, who clocked two winners from 40-0 down to put pressure on in his first return game.
While Gasquet managed to hold serve and keep pace for five games, he could not dig his way out of a 0-40 hole in the sixth game - Federer producing two classy backhand volleys to secure the break.
The 12th seed's best chance to break came in the ninth game at 30-30, but two Federer forehand winners saw him avoid the danger and wrap up the set.
Federer broke early in the second to continue his momentum, and a double-fault on set point saw Gasquet hand the 17-time major winner a two-set buffer.
Serving first in the third, Federer was never in danger of giving up his serve - making his break for 2-0 detrimental to Gasquet's hopes.
The five-time US Open champion lost just four points on serve in the third, as he advanced to the last four in New York for the 10th time in 12 years.