Roger dodges another bullet

NEW YORK - A bad back prevented Roger Federer from getting ready for the US Open the way he prefers to prepare for a Grand Slam tournament.

And so far, it's showed.

Federer blamed a lack of proper practice after making an uncharacteristic 68 unforced errors and being forced to go five sets again before coming back to edge a cramping Mikhail Youzhny 1-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 on Thursday in Arthur Ashe Stadium.