Top Open Seed Federer Defeats Young in Opening Round Match
August 28, 2012 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg
Top-seeded Roger Federer returned to the U.S. Open on Monday and defeated American Donald Young 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 to improve his career record to 62-7 at Flushing Meadows. Looking to extend his record with an 18th Grand Slam title, Federer finished with seven aces and needed only 1 hour, 34 minutes to dispatch Young, an American who endured a 17-match losing streak earlier in the year.
"I thought it was good, you know, considering I played a very talented player who I didn’t know much and never played against him," said Federer. "First round at the U.S. Open can always bring a lot of pressure with it. It was
very windy out there and extremely humid. I’m just happy I was able to weather the conditions and a dangerous opponent. Overall I’m extremely happy."
Federer, winner earlier this year at Wimbledon and the a 2012 Olympic Silver Medalist at the London Games, came into the U.S. Open seeded first for the 23rd time at a Grand Slam event, breaking the record he shared with Pete Sampras. Federer had left the U.S. Open the last two years after semifinal losses to Novak Djokovic.
"It’s going to be an interesting U.S. Open," said Federer. "I’m happy I’m through the first round. World number one
right now is not on the top of my mind. I am happy I’m world number one, but it’s not what drives me during this year’s U.S. Open. It’s actually trying to get the title or get closer to that title, because first the focus is completely elsewhere."
