Top-seeded Roger Federer beat Tim Henman 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 on Friday to reach the third round of the United States Open, punctuating his victory with a moving, behind-the-back volley between his legs.
Federer, trying for his third straight US Open championship, took the court 11 hours after Andre Agassi’s palpitating victory over Marcos Baghdatis on the same court. Ranked number one and widely regarded as one of the best players ever, Federer won in rather routine fashion.
Except for that one sensational volley.
Caught in between steps, Federer skipped to his right, reached around his back and zinged a shot between his knees. Henman seemed surprised and, with both players already smiling, Federer smacked a winner to close the fourth game in the final set.
”Rarely do you try this type of shot in a match,” Federer said. ”In practice, it happens all the time. But to come and pull it off on centre court, you have to make sure you’re not doing something totally stupid or you don’t look like an idiot.”
Said Henman: ”There’s not a lot you can say at that stage, apart from laugh.”
In other early matches, second-seeded Justine Henin-Hardenne rallied past Ai Sugiyama 4-6, 6-1, 6-0 and fellow former Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova defeated Anastassia Rodionova 6-3, 6-0. Also, number 19 Jelena Jankovic beat number nine Nicole Vaidisova 5-7, 6-3, 6-2.
On the men’s side, number seven Nikolay Davydenko won when Nicolas Mahut retired after losing 6-0 in the first set, number 10 Fernando Gonzalez beat Jan Hajek 6-4, 6-4, 6-2, number 12 Tomas Berdych downed Florian Mayer 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 and number 14 Tommy Haas topped Raemon Sluiter 6-4, 6-2, 6-3.
Also, number 17 Andy Murray stopped Alessio di Mauro 6-0, 6-1, 6-1, number 18 Robby Ginepri defeated Paul Goldstein 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 and number 21 Gaston Gaudio, a former French Open champion, beat American teen Sam Querrey 3-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-4.
Lindsay Davenport and Marat Safin were scheduled later, as were James Blake and Elena Dementieva. In a tournament that already lost a day of rain, storms were supposed to move in shortly.
Federer was ready for a full day, only he preferred it was at night. ”You have a more electrifying atmosphere,” he said. ”The conditions were tough today. Breezy, chilly, early.”
Federer, like many of the people straggling into Arthur Ashe Stadium, stayed up late to follow Agassi. ”I watched it till the end. Fantastic. Loved it,” he said. ”I get nervous myself watching this stuff, like a fan. Get cold feet. I was in the bed, going under the blanket almost.
”I enjoyed last night’s match so much, I wouldn’t mind playing five sets myself,” he said.
Henman began the day with a 6-5 career record against Federer, tied with Rafael Nadal among active players for the most wins against him. Federer evened the series, beating Henman for the fifth straight time.
Even when Henman thought he had Federer, he didn’t. Like on that one superb shot. ”I actually hit what I though was going to be a perfect volley. He’s actually then in the wrong position,” Henman said. ”But because he has no time to think about it, it was just a split-second reaction, but he executed it fairly well.
”Funny shots happen. It’s not really something that you can plan. It is such an instinctive thing. I’ve played behind-my-back volleys and stuff, but not like that.”
Federer admitted he was surprised at how well it turned out. ”I knew I didn’t move properly to the ball and the next thing I knew, it was between my legs. The only option was the one shot I hit,” he said. ”He almost gave up because he thought my shot was too good, which was good fun.”
The shot startled fans, and drew applause. Not quite the same volume Agassi generated, of course. ”I guess I was never the crowd favourite, like Andre was,” he said. — Sapa-AP