“He’s a Grand Slam finalist this year already, and his results speak for themselves,” said Fish, who had arthroscopic knee surgery last year. “It’s a great win.”

Federer’s meltdown means the Swiss has yet to win a title in 2009.

“It would have been easier if I had played terrible, but I gave it a go in the third,” said Roddick, who left the court quickly and was in a sour mood after again giving it his all and coming up short against Federer for the 17th time in 19 tries. “I just didn’t catch a break there. He had two very good let cords in the third, but at least it became a battle.”

Serena Williams, looking as if she was going to break out in tears at times, came back to defeat China’s Li Na 4-6, 7-6(1), 6-2. Li won the first five games of the match before Serena began to work her way into the match.

In other results Tuesday, No. 4 seed Andy Murray steamrolled Viktor Troicki 6-1, 6-0; No. 6 Juan Martin Del Potro topped No. 11 David Ferrer 6-3, 6-2; No. 8 Fernando “Hot Sauce” Verdasco scalded No. 18 Radek Stepanek 6-2, 6-2; and in the final night match, world No. 1 Rafael Nadal escaped a hot-handed No. 16 seed Stan Wawrinka 7-6(2), 7-6(4).