By Chris Soderstrom
Defending champion Roger Federer kept hopes of a breakthrough Grand Slam title for the year alive with a 7-6 (5), 6-4, 7-6 (5) win against surprise quarter-finalist Gilles Muller.
The Luxembourg qualifier pressed the second seed all the way, yet was unable to take the match to a fourth set.
“You could see why he was number one,” said Muller, whose quarter-final appearance is a tremendous feat given his current ranking of No. 130 in the world.
“Every time the score was tight he came up with the better shot.”
The win takes Federer’s winning streak to 32 matches at the US Open. He has now made an appearance in all major semi-finals since the 2004 French Open.
“I’m happy to keep the semi-final streak alive. That’s a huge streak for a long time,” Federer said. “I’m really happy with my mindset going into the semi-finals. I’m happy to take it to the final four one more time.”
The 27-year-old will play Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, who defeated Andy Roddick today in four sets. Djokovic will enter the match full of confidence having put the Swiss out of the Australian Open semi-final earlier this year.
Meanwhile, after a sluggish start World No. 1 Rafael Nadal also progressed winning 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 against America’s Mardy Fish. The reigning Wimbledon and French Open winner reaches his first ever US Open semi-final.