NEW YORK. – Roger Federer destroyed David Goffin 6-2, 6-2, 6-0 on Sunday to reach the US Open quarterfinals and keep his bid for a record-extending 21st Grand Slam title alive.
The Swiss third seed fired 35 winners and 10 aces to see off the outclassed Belgian in a speedy 80 minutes on a sunny day at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Federer, 38, was at his best when it mattered most, converting nine of his 10 break point opportunities to set up a meeting with Grigor Dimitrov on Tuesday.
Novak Djokovic’s title defense came unstuck on Sunday when a nagging shoulder injury forced the world No. 1 to retire from his fourth-round match against Stan Wawrinka, prompting a chorus of boos from the crowd.
Wawrinka was leading 6-4, 7-5, 2-1 when Djokovic decided he could not continue, the pair embracing at the side of the court before the Serb walked off with his head down low but his left thumb stuck high in the air.
“The pain was constant for weeks now. Some days higher, some days with less intensity, and obviously taking different stuff to kill the pain instantly,” said Djokovic, who has won the US Open three times.
Serena Williams needed a medical time out in the second set of her 6-3, 6-4 win over Petra Martic on Sunday to get treatment on her right ankle but recovered to advance to the quarterfinals.
Second seed Ash Barty’s US Open bid came crashing down when she lost 6-2, 6-4 to China’s Wang Qiang in the fourth round on Sunday.