World number one Roger Federer was given a free pass into the last eight of the 2012 US Open on day eight with opponent Mardy Fish withdrawing, while Andy Murray and Tomas Berdych progressed.
Federer didn’t need to hit a ball with 23rd seed Fish pulling out of the match due to health concerns, meaning the Swiss moves into the quarter finals where he’ll face Berdych who comfortably got past 11th seed Nicolas Almagro 7-6, 6-4, 6-1.
“It will be a tough match against Tomas,” Federer told reporters. “We have played many times in the past and he has always been a tough opponent. I will have to continue to serve well and dictate the points.”
Federer added: “I am really sorry for Mardy. I just want to wish him a speedy recovery. We all want to see him back on tour soon.”
Meanwhile, London Olympics champion Murray will next face Croatian 12th seed Marin Cilic after knocking off 15th seed Milos Raonic 6–4, 6–4, 6–2.
“I used a lot of variation tonight,” Murray told reporters. “Milos has a massive game. I had to guess sometimes. I was lucky, because they fly past you and sometimes you get a racket on it. Tonight I got a racket on it.”
In the women’s on Monday there was a big win for tournament favourite and fourth seed Serena Williams who eclipsed Czech Andrea Hlavackova 6-0, 6-0.
“I think my road has been a journey. I don’t think anything’s easy. I don’t think anything is easy,” Serena said. “I never play a person and say, ‘Oh, that was an easy opponent.’ No, I have never done that. Everything takes some type of match and mental toughness.”
However, Wimbledon runner-up and second seed Agnieszka Radwanska as well as German sixth seed Angelique Kerber bowed out on day eight, both losing in straight sets to Italian opponents, Roberta Vinci and Sara Errani respectively.
Williams will face Serbian 12th seed Ana Ivanovic in the final eight, while the two Italians will face off in the other quarter final.