2012 US OPEN Day 8: Serena and Federer Win

REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

Serena Williams reached the quarterfinals of the 2012 US Open where she will face 2008 French Open champion Ana Ivanovic by winning 6-0 6-0 against Czech doubles specialist Anna Hlavackova. Earlier, Roger Federer reached his record 34th consecutive major quarterfinal by also not losing a (or winning) a single game when Mardy Fish withdrew from the tournament on the advice of his doctor. Fish has been struggling with a heart condition (accelerated heart rate) for most of the 2012 tennis season. The world #1 will face Tomas Berdych, who beat Federer in the quarterfinals en route to his appearance in the 2010 Wimbledon final. Serena is in dominating form, having won 38 of her last 40 matches, with losses only to Angelique Kerber in Cincinnati and Virginie Razzano in Paris, grabbing the Wimbledon title and gold medals in Singes and Doubles.

The double bagel Serena served was only the 5th in her career and the first at the US Open since Maria Sharapova did it in 2009. Speaking of the Russian, she came back from being down 0-2 in the deciding set against Nadia Petrova after a brief rain delay last night to eventually win her 11th 3-set match of 2012 6-1 4-6 6-4.

The other big result of the weekend was Marion Bartoli taking out 2011 Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova 1-6 6-2 6-0 to reach a quarterfinal match up with Sharapova. #1 seed Victoria Azarenka has reached her very first US Open quarterfinal by losing a mere 10 games in her first four rounds. (Even with the double bagel, Serena has lost more games than Vika: twelve in four rounds.) Kerber lost a very tough, tight match against 2012 French Open finalist Sara Errani 7-6(5) 6-3.

Andy Roddick continued his last run at a major tournament after announcing his retirement by taking out his handsome buddy Fabio Fognini 7-5 7-6(1) 4-6 6-4. He will face Juan Martin del Potro in a tough 4th round match tomorrow night.