Federer and Djokovic escape, Davydenko upended, Roddick cruises

After three straight set victories, including the third round domination of No. 28 seed Radek Stepanek, Roger Federer looked like his old self. Enter No. 23 seed Igor Andreev. The Russian once took Federer to four sets back in 2004, but he didn’t seem to be too formidable of an opponent this time around, at least on paper. Andreev, however, took a first set tiebreak from Federer on Tuesday, and nearly took the second set too, but somehow came up short despite 18 winners and just three unforced errors in the set. Though Federer gained some momentum by winning the second and then the third, it took a fifth set to finish off the hard-hitting Andreev. Despite 60 unforced errors, Federer advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

No. 5 seed Nikolay Davydenko, meanwhile, appeared ready for another US Open late round contest with Federer, the same player who defeated the Russian in each of the last two semifinals. Like some of his other opponents this week, Davydenko may have looked past No. 130 ranked Gilles Muller, especially holding a 2-0 all-time record against the Luxembourg native. Despite a 2006 first round US Open win over Andy Roddick, Muller entered this year’s tournament with just a 1-4 record in ATP matches. With a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (10) victory over Davydenko, he now has won four matches this year in New York and will look to surprise even more tennis fans when he faces off against Federer on Thursday.

Also in action on Tuesday was No. 3 Novak Djokovic and No. 15 Tommy Robredo. Djokovic won over many fans last year with his comical impersonations of fellow pro tennis players, but his gutsy performance on Tuesday may have won over some New Yorkers for his actual tennis. Despite a minus three winner to unforced error differential, Djokovic took out the Spaniard Robredo, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3. Djokovic is now 14-3 all-time at Flushing Meadows, but he will have to face No. 8 seed Andy Roddick in the quarterfinals next.

Roddick, the 2003 champion, served brilliantly against No. 11 seed Fernando Gonzalez, firing seven aces with no double faults, while losing just nine of 62 service points. Roddick also hit just seven unforced errors, and easily took out the Chilean 6-2, 6-4, 6-1. Gonzalez has once before made the quarterfinals in New York, but there wasn’t much of a chance for him to get back there the way Roddick played in this round of 16 battle.

Juan Martin Del Potro and Andy Murray will square off in the day match tomorrow, while Rafael Nadal and Mardy Fish will do battle tomorrow night following the Venus and Serena Williams battle on Arthur Ashe Stadium Court.