NEW YORK—Charging across the service line, Roger Federer knifed a backhand volley into the corner, danced to cut off the angle, then spiked a high volley with such authoritative snap that the ball hopped the back wall, eluded a leaping man, and rattled around the sixth row.
An explosive Federer was so sharp tonight, even the fans had trouble running down some of his winners. The five-time U.S. Open champion hit plenty of souvenir shots in outclassing Roberto Bautista Agut, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2, to roll into the quarterfinals for the 10th time in the last 11 years.
On this day and in this round last year, another ultra-fit Spaniard, Tommy Robredo, was a road block for Federer, who was slowed by a back injury and a confidence crisis. Gliding around the court tonight, Federer turned this fourth-rounder into rush hour. With an attacking mindset from the start, Federer won 35 of 52 trips to net, downsizing the largest Grand Slam stadium court in the world and rushing an increasingly harried opponent into errors.
Looking fit and playing fast, Federer was eager to take the match to Bautista Agut in his Arthur Ashe Stadium debut. The 17th seed is a clean ball striker who hits a firm, flat ball. But Bautista Agut is limited by the fact he plays linear tennis—he lacks the spin to produce the sharp angles Federer can create—and that made him an ideal foil for the Swiss, who mixed spins masterfully to stretch his opponent and close with conviction at net.
Streaking out to a 5-1 lead, Federer earned set point, but Bautista Agut saved it, holding with an angled forehand drop shot. That challenging sequence sparked a burst, as Bautista Agut earned triple break point in the ensuing game. Federer saved the first two, but a stretched return into the corner coaxed an error as Bautista Agut broke for 3-5. Serving for the set for a second time, Federer didn't blink, plastered successive aces to seal the 43-minute opener. Forward thinking was evident in the fact Federer won 15 of 21 trips to net in the set.
