Tennis: Three-time defending champion Roger Federer outslugged Andy Roddick in a near flawless display of power tennis to reach the US Open semi-finals in the early hours of this morning.
The first two sets featured sizzling skill from the service line as neither player lost a game on his own delivery and both sets went to tiebreaks.
Federer won the first 7-5 and the second 7-4 against the 2003 US Open champion and man he beat in last year's final to stay on course for a 12th grand slam title.
The Swiss world number one and top seed claimed the first service break of the high intensity match in the sixth game of the third set when Roddick sailed a backhand long to fall behind 4-2.
Federer broke Roddick again for good measure in the last game when the American netted a backhand on match point to end the contest 7-6 7-6 6-2 after just over two hours.
The victory sent Federer into Saturday's semi-finals against fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko of Russia, who beat 10th seed Tommy Haas 6-3 6-3 6-4.
"I thought it was a very high standard match," Federer told reporters. "I was very pleased with my performance. I thought actually Andy also played very well.
"I could have been down two sets to love."
Federer struck 48 winners and 18 errors. Roddick was also brilliant, with 42 winners and just 10 errors. Roddick served 14 aces, one less than Federer.
"I'm happy the way I'm maintaining this great ability of coming up with the important wins when I have to," Federer added. "I'm at my best always at the slams. This is where the focus is the biggest."
Roddick was dejected after falling once again to Federer, yet the fifth-seeded American said he could hold his head high after the power-packed quarter-final.
"I'm not walking off with any questions in my head this time," said Roddick, who has lost 13 of 14 matches against the Swiss master. "I'm not walking with my head down.
"I played my ass off out there tonight. I played the right way."