Federer too good for Roddick

Top seed Roger Federer makes a forehand return to fifth seed Andy Roddick during their Men's singles quarterfinal at the US Open in Flushing Meadows on Wednesday.Photo: AFP

Andy Roddick has tested Roger Federer, even forced the world number one to make some astonishing shots. But for the 14th time in 15 matches, the top US player could not beat the Swiss tennis magician.
Three-time defending champion Federer beat Roddick for the 10th time in a row on Wednesday, taking a 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 US Open quarterfinal victory over the fifth seed in a night quarterfinal at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
"I'm not walking off with any questions in my head this time," Roddick said. "I'm not walking with my head down. I played my ass off out there tonight. I played the right way. It helps. But that doesn't mean I can't be pissed off."
The rematch of last year's US Open final was the sixth Grand Slam meeting between Federer, seeking his 12th Slam title this week, and Roddick, whose lone Slam crown came at the 2003 US Open.
"I played well. I don't know about better or whatever but I played well," Roddick said.
Federer was pushed into making his best shots of the Flushing Meadows fortnight, the most impressive being an instinctive blocked backhand return on the line of a 140-mph service blast from Roddick.
"I didn't make mistakes. If he hits a 140, hits the back of the line, whatever," said Roddick, who added that such shots are no longer a surprise when they come from Federer.
"I've seen it done too many times."
Roddick, whose only victory over Federer came in a 2003 Montreal semifinal, said he wasn't sure if Federer was getting better and would not call the latest defeat his best effort against Federer.
But asked if he thought he has shown he can hurt Federer, Roddick replied, "I hope so."
Roddick said he would not be playing if he didn't think he could beat Federer and said that more nights like this one might help him end the drought even though he took a set off Federer in the 2006 final, unlike Wednesday.
"If I play like that consistently, who knows," Roddick said. "I don't think it was a piece of cake for him. I thought I made him play as well as he could play."
"I felt pretty good from the first ball. I had a game plan. I felt like I executed it pretty well most of the time. I just tried to keep going."
Roddick has no intention of feeling sorry for himself simply because he has come to form in an era Federer has dominated, winning 11 of the past 13 non-clay Slams.
"If I feel sorry for myself I'm a real asshole," Roddick said. "I get to play in atmospheres like that. I get a lot of opportunities. I'm very lucky. If I start feeling sorry for myself, I need a serious sense of perspective."
Enjoying the support of more than 23,000 supporters, Roddick was enjoying the moment if not the results.
"I was having a lot of fun out there. I'd have to be completely out of touch not to realize what the atmosphere is like and appreciate it," he said.
"If I didn't have fun in that, I wouldn't have fun playing tennis. You can just feed off the energy it's a show."