Roger Federer served sensationally as he routed Daniel Evans 6-2 6-2 6-1 for a place in the US Open fourth round.
However Friday victory was also the subject of a scheduling controversy on a day which also saw fellow Swiss Stan Wawrinka advance, while former New York finalist Kei Nishikori was knocked out of the tournament in a 6-2 6-4 2-6 6-3 loss to Australian livewire Alex de Minaur.
While Federer had a day of rest Thursday, Evans played back-to-back matches because his second round against Lucas Pouille was washed out Wednesday and staged Thursday with a 6pm (local time) finish, seeing him return 18 hours later at noon Friday.
“I was fatigued,” Evans said.
“I thought it was pretty tough I was first up after playing yesterday, if I’m being brutally honest.”
The world No.58 said his rank meant he had no say over scheduling, while he suggested top stars like Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal had more sway with organisers.
“There is probably about four people in this tournament who have a say when they play. Maybe three … The tournament obviously wants Roger, would rather [see] Roger going through that match than me,” he said.
Federer retorted that he was “sick and tired of it”, saying any complaints should be directed to tournament organisers and television networks for scheduling.
He acknowledged that the scheduling was not in Evans’ favour, but said “that’s tennis”.
“It’s entertainment, and the show must go on. I’ve lost matches this way. I’ve won some this time. Luck was on my side. I understand if Danny is a little bit frustrated,” Federer said.
Federer allowed Evans just six points on his own serve in the first set and then won his next five service games at love to take the second set and go 1-0 up in the third.
Evans broke two games later but did not even get a sniff at a comeback as Federer reeled off the next four games to complete the quickest men’s draw victory of the current tournament in a mere 1 hour 20 minutes on a beautiful northern summer afternoon in New York.
Federer finished with 48 winners while Evans, who was invited by Federer to train with him in Switzerland ahead of the French Open, had a mere seven.
“I played really good tennis and enjoyed myself,” said Federer, who meets 15th seed David Goffin next.
“Over time I got very comfortable and very confident. It’s a good feeling to have after the last couple of matches.”
Wawrinka, the last man not in the big three to win a grand slam at the 2016 US Open, dispatched Italian loser Paolo Lorenzi, 6-4 7-6 (11-9) 7-6 (7-4), and now faces either world number one Novak Djokoviv or Denis Kudla.
The 2014 finalist Nishikori meanwhile became the latest high seed to go out on the men’s side, the number seven losing 6-2 6-4 2-6 6-3 against Australian young gun de Minaur. He is the seventh from the 12 top seeds to go out.
