Federer eases past Kohlschreiber to set up Del Potro clash

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New York, September 5: Roger Federer brushed past Philipp Kohlschreiber to set up a blockbuster US Open quarter-final against Juan Martin del Potro.

Federer improved to 12-0 head-to-head against the German thanks to a 6-4 6-2 7-5 fourth-round victory on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday (September 4).

However, the Swiss third seed did take a medical timeout off court at the end of the second set.

The 19-time grand slam champion was seemingly troubled by his back again, but he showed few signs of injury during a 109-minute win.

Into a 12th quarter-final in New York, Federer produced a fine performance against Kohlschreiber, setting up a clash against Del Potro in a repeat of the 2009 decider and moving a step closer to a last-four meeting with Rafael Nadal.

It continued a friendly run into the last eight for Federer, who has now beaten three players against whom he holds perfect records – Mikhail Youzhny (now 17-0), Feliciano Lopez (13-0) and Kohlschreiber (12-0).

Kohlschreiber matched it with Federer early, only to give up a 40-0 lead and be broken in the seventh game when the Swiss star hit a forehand winner.

That allowed Federer to take control, two more breaks – and losing just four points on serve – seeing him through the second set.

Unusually, the 36-year-old took a medical timeout before the third set, but he broke in the 11th game thanks to a backhand winner on his way to a straightforward victory.

STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN Federer [3] beat Kohlschreiber [33] 6-4 6-2 7-5

WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS Federer - 39/20 Kohlschreiber - 19/33

ACES/DOUBLE FAULTS Federer - 11/2 Kohlschreiber - 4/2

BREAK POINTS WON Federer - 4/7 Kohlschreiber - 0/0

FIRST SERVE PERCENTAGE Federer - 65 Kohlschreiber - 57

PERCENTAGE OF POINTS WON ON FIRST/SECOND SERVE Federer - 88/73 Kohlschreiber - 67/49

TOTAL POINTS Federer - 101 Kohlschreiber - 70

Source: OPTA