Wailing baby triggers Roger to speedy win

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(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-09-09 11:05

NEW YORK: It took a baby wailing in the stands to remind Roger Federer that his life no longer simply revolved around tennis.

At 5-5 in the first set, the Swiss world No 1 looked like he could be heading for an unusually long workout against a player he has beaten eight times in a row since 2002.

Wailing baby triggers Roger to speedy win

But just when Tommy Robredo started to daydream that this might be the day he would finally pull off the impossible, the howls from high up in the aisles on Arthur Ashe Stadium rudely interrupted his reverie.

While 20 years ago John McEnroe might have held up proceedings to demand stewards evict the offending infant from the arena, Federer reacted by playing like a man who was running horrendously late for his children's birthday party.

The Swiss world No 1 surrendered only four more games in a 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 fourth-round win over Robredo.

Day job done, it was time to get back to his real duties - as a hands-on dad to his 46-day old twin daughters, Charlene and Myla.

Is the world's greatest ever racquet swinger any good in the nappy-changing department?

"I don't know," grinned the 28-year-old. "Thank God nobody is judging me on it but I'm trying hard. I'm trying to be good at it. I guess women are always going to be better at that stuff."

A final weekend without the Swiss lurking in the horizon is almost an unthinkable scenario - as the last time he did not reach at least the semifinals of a grand slam was at the French Open in 2004.

How does he do it?

"It's just about having fun out there, playing a good match, playing good tennis, enjoying the moment, playing in packed stadiums," Federer said after posting his 38th successive win here.

"It's something not many people get an opportunity to do. I think everybody would love to be in my shoes."

Federer may not be wrong there but reality is that his next opponent, Swedish 12th seed Robin Soderling, will probably spend the next two days quaking in his own shoes.

With a 0-11 record against the Swiss, Soderling has had little to shout about whenever he comes face-to-face with the top seed.

"I'm trying to defend the title here, not just to reach another semi so my streak stays alive," he said.

"I hope I can get there again. For this, I need to go through Soderling. I hope I can do it. It would be great."

Reuters