Roger Federer’s coach, Stefan Edberg, was known as an attacking player during his day.
Serving and volleying, as well as chipping and charging the net, helped the Swede amass six grand slam titles in the 1980s and ’90s. But not even Edberg employed some of the audacious tactics Federer has used in the past month.
The Swiss approached the net at the Cincinnati Masters after half-volleying second-serve returns, and the unconventional ploy contributed to Federer ousting both top-ranked Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, then the No. 2, en route to a seventh title.
All eyes were on Federer — well, they usually are — to see if the men’s record 17-time grand slam winner would stick with it at the U.S. Open.
He did, with success, and Leonardo Mayer was the unfortunate recipient in the first round.
On a second consecutive day of sweltering conditions in New York — the heat wave isn’t expected to subside anytime soon — Federer crushed the Argentine 6-1 6-2 6-2 on Arthur Ashe stadium.
Mayer isn’t a household name, even if he won the longest singles match in Davis Cup history in March in a shade under seven hours, but he entered Tuesday’s clash just outside the seedings and held five match points on Federer when they met at the Shanghai Masters last October.
Federer rallied, leaving Mayer in tears.
Tuesday’s loss could hardly be classified as agonizing for the world No. 34, since it lasted a mere 77 minutes. Federer struck 29 winners — one of which came when, airborne, he pummeled a smash to conclude the second set — to only 13 unforced errors and claimed 84% of his first-serve points.
Federer’s game plan seemed to destabilize Mayer: He hit seven double faults and made 31 unforced errors.
Those half-volley returns, Federer said, started in practice after Wimbledon and he was urged to continue by his other coach, Severin Luthi.
“Happily I was able to use it today,” Federer said in an on-court interview. “I enjoy it and hope I can keep it up.
“When you lose a point it’s a bit ridiculous but when you win it’s a great feeling.”
Federer, who recorded his 73rd U.S. Open victory to pull level for third with Ivan Lendl, added that center court was playing quicker than usual. If true, it’s probably a result of Arthur Ashe stadium being partially covered as organizers are well into constructing a retractable roof that will be fully operational for next year’s event.
The faster the better for Federer, who is bidding to win a first major in three years.
There’s now less wind on tennis’ largest regularly used stadium, according to Federer, and the 34-year-old insisted it would “increase the level of play.”
“It used to be the windy place to play,” said Federer. “Here on center court you (now) avoid that.”
Simona Halep, like Federer a No. 2 seed, avoided the upset bug that bit her at the last four grand slams when New Zealand’s Marina Erakovic retired with a knee injury trailing 6-2 3-0. Particularly demoralizing for the Romanian, she lost in the second round at the French Open and first round at Wimbledon.
Refreshed coming into the U.S. Open Series, however, Halep duly made finals in Toronto and Cincinnati.
“Actually this is the first time when I start a grand slam well,” Halep told reporters. “I had a good match. I think I played very aggressive. I played with confidence and I didn’t let her play her game.”
But Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic, the French Open finalist, fell to Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko 6-4 6-1 four days after topping the Ukrainian in the semifinals of the Connecticut Open. Tsurenko, nonetheless, is playing the best tennis of her career, having recently won a maiden title in Turkey.
Donald Young, once considered the next big hope in U.S. tennis, rallied from two sets and a break down to defeat 11th seed Gilles Simon 2-6 4-6 6-4 6-4 6-4 but Simon’s fellow Frenchman, Richard Gasquet, won a five setter.
July’s Wimbledon semifinalist advanced when Thanasi Kokkinakis retired with cramps early in the fifth. Gasquet led 4-6 6-1 4-6 6-3 2-0. On Monday, seven players retired, tying an Open Era record for most retirements at a major in one day.