Federer Tested by Kiefer, Hewitt Wins at US Open

While not one of the only three players who have beaten Roger Federer in 2005, German Nicolas Kiefer again proved a thorn in the side of the world No. 1 with his effective all-court game, handing the Swiss his first set loss of this US Open in a 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-4 defeat Tuesday at the US Open.

"I feel very good right now because that was a tough match," Federer said.

Kiefer had also previously taken sets off Federer this year in meetings at Wimbledon and the Masters Series-Cincinnati.

At one-set all, Federer faced double break point at 3-all, 15-40, but fought his way out with the help of a stunning backhand pass and two unforced errors from the all-court German.

"That game was huge, absolutely," Federer said. "I was not so happy the way I was playing, especially in the second set. Third was getting better, especially after that pass. I really felt that shift in momentum. I took advantage of that. In the fourth set, I started to feel like I'm really in control again where I didn't feel that way at all before. I had the feeling actually momentum was all on his side."

Kiefer had recorded three consecutive wins over the Swiss during 2001-02, but since then has lost six straight.

"We (are) on Earth, but he's playing on different planet," Kiefer said.

No. 3 seed Lleyton Hewitt looked dominant against Dominik "The Dominator" Hrbaty with a routine 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 win.

"I think I stepped it up today," Hewitt said. "I just went out there with the game plan that (coach) Roger (Rasheed) and I had put together and just executed it perfectly and did what I needed to do. And didn't feel that under pressure on either my service games nor his."

The Dominator suffered from erratic play and failed to take care of his serve after going up an early break in the second set.

"Yeah, I didn't play my best," said the pink-shirted reverse-dominatrix-bra wearing Hrbaty. "I made too many mistakes against him. And he's the kind of player like he's waiting for opponent's mistakes."

Hewitt will next face unseeded Finn Jarkko Nieminen, who straight-setted Fernando Verdasco 6-2, 7-6(6), 6-3.

Also into the quarters was No. 11 seed David Nalbandian, who defeated Italy's Davide Sanguinetti 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-4, 6-2.

Nalbandian has reached at least the fourth round at every slam this year, but besides winning the claycourt title at Munich has had a poor year for a player of his caliber, sinking him just outside of the Top 10.

Nalbandian, next up for Federer, leads the Swiss 5-2 in their career meetings, losing the last two.

"I've had tough losses against Nalbandian," Federer said. "I like to play guys who beat me, especially early in my career, and try to get them back."

Scheduled for Wednesday are (8) Guillermo "El Mago" Coria vs. Robby "Baby Courier" Ginepri (first career meeting), and (7) Agassi vs. James Blake (Agassi leads meetings 3-1).