Roger Federer saved the break of serve for last, doing what no man had managed to do at the United States Open against John Isner since 2013.
But by then, Federer already had this tricky fourth-round duel under control.
Isner, the last American man remaining in the draw, came out with a right-minded aggressive game plan and plenty of positive energy to go with his massive serve.
But despite all of Isner’s big weapons and best efforts, he could still not find a way to win a set against Federer, the Swiss superstar who continued his fine summer-long impression of peak Federer on a muggy Monday night in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Federer might be 34, but he still had the touch, reflexes and closing speed required to win the points that mattered most in a match in which extended rallies were rare and flashy shot making was plentiful (and not only from Federer).
The critical points came in the tiebreakers, and Federer won them on his way to completing his 7-6 (0), 7-6 (6), 7-5 victory.
It was a few points, Isner said. If you would have told me before the match started it would come down to a few points here or there, I would have taken that, especially given how good he is. But he played those points better, came up with the goods. That’s why he’s who he is.
Said Federer: Obviously, John has one of the best serves in the game. The pace on his second serve is unreal. You’ve just got to hang around and make sure you don’t drop your own serve, and I guess that was the key to the match.
Federer did not lose his own serve, saving all five break points he faced. In the quarterfinals, he will meet another familiar foe, the Frenchman Richard Gasquet, who rallied to defeat Tomas Berdych, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-1.It also has been a fine summer’s run for Gasquet, who upset Federer’s Swiss compatriot Stan Wawrinka at Wimbledon on his way to the semifinals.
But Federer, who beat Gasquet to win Switzerland’s first Davis Cup last year, and Wawrinka remain the favorites to meet in the semifinals here. Wawrinka is set to face Kevin Anderson in the other quarterfinal in the top half of the draw.