Roger Federer Routs David Goffin, Will Face Grigor Dimitrov in US Open Quarterfinals
(September 1, 2019) FLUSHING MEADOWS, NY – After slow starts in the first two matches, Roger Federer seems to be on cruise control. The 38-year-old Swiss needed just 79 minutes to dispatch 15th seed David Goffin of Belgium 6-2, 6-2, 6-0 to move into the his 13th career quarterfinal at the US Open. Federer has been in 56 career major tournament final eight.
The third seed hasn’t dropped any sets since his second-round match.
Federer his 35 winners nailing 10 aces against his opponent.
“I start okay,” said Goffin. “I started with a break. But, you know, I was not feeling that great. He gave me the break.
“It’s tough because against him you don’t know why you miss easy shots. You have 20% of first serve. You don’t know why you missing everything, easy balls. All of a sudden he’s playing well. As soon as he’s ahead, he has a set, then another set, then it’s getting tough.
“For me, I knew two sets to love down, you have to take the next three sets against him, it’s tough. It’s tough mentally when you not playing well, you miss everything, and you absolutely don’t know why.”
“Sometimes these scores just happen,” Federer said. “You catch a good day, the opponent doesn’t, then things happen very quickly.
“Maybe he struggled a bit early on. But I found my groove after a while and was able to roll really. Never looked back. David wasn’t nearly as good as I expected him to be. He was struggling a little bit today. I was able to take advantage of it, and I think that’s the key.
“In a fourth round like this, if you can keep it nice, short, simple, you have to take them. I’m very happy.”
“It’s definitely very special to be playing for these records,” Federer said to media. “Being in my 56th quarters now of a slam is definitely a nice feeling. That was obviously the initial goal here at this tournament, try to make it so far.
“So, yeah, I think I use it at the right times for motivation, I guess. That’s how far it goes. I don’t like to think about it or talk about it all the time with the team or the press just because I want to remember what it was supposed to be when I started.
“Back in the ’80s when I started, people were not only talking about records all the time. This is a new phenomenon with social media, with the press. Everything being more professional, everybody talks records and numbers. I get it, especially in this country where statistics and numbers are everywhere, we talk even more about it. I get it.
“It’s helped me at times. At the same time I always try to remind myself it’s just a side story. What happened on the court today was more important.”
Next up for the No, 3 seed will be Grigor Dimitrov, former Top Ten player that some used to “Baby Fed.”
The Bulgarian currently ranked at 78the in the world, is trying to rebound from from a slump, beat Australian Alex de Minaur 7-5, 6-3, 6-4. He was No. three in the world just 2 years ago.
“There’s no such a thing as old and new Grigor,” said Dimtorv in his news conference. “Only way is forward. Overall I feel like a different person, a different player. I mean, there’s no point to sit here and talk about the past six, seven months, to welcome everybody to my pity party.
“It is what’s. I faced the adversity, faced everything I had to. Back on the court is always a great feeling. I’m back. I’m enjoying it, as well. I’m feeling free. Of course when you get out on the court, you can’t hide.
“Again, I was really happy that I was able to play just a very composed match. I was reading the game well. I was moving well, returning well, serving well. Above all, mentally I was very stable.
“I think those are the things that really matter to me right now. That’s why I don’t want to compare what old me or new me means. We just look forward.”
Dimitrov goes into his match against Federer with an 0-7 record.
“Given the history of me and Roger, how we’ve played the past years, nothing had favored me. But it is what it is right now,” he said.
“I’m very appreciative of where I’m at right now. I’m very appreciative of what I’ve gone through and what I’m going through. I’m exactly where I should be. Again, I could never predict, after a summer like, that beginning of the year like that, that I’m going to be out here. But I’m here.”
“Excitement? Yes. So was every other feeling you could possibly think. But it’s one of the most important things, not to look too far ahead. Enjoy the moment for a second, appreciate the situation, and we move on. Hopefully in a couple of days I’ll be sitting here again.”
