Live: Youzhny vs. Federer

Mikhail Youhzny, currently No. 101 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, leads third seed Roger Federer, the 2004-2008 US Open champion, 1-6, 7-6(3), 6-4 on Wednesday afternoon.

Federer, who has never lost to Youzhny in their 16-match FedEx ATP Head2Head series, is looking to capture his third Grand Slam championship of the year and 20th major overall. The Swiss superstar has compiled a 36-3 match record in 2017, including five trophies. Former World No. 8 Youzhny reached the US Open semi-finals in 2006 and 2010.

The winner will next meet Spanish No. 31 seed Feliciano Lopez, who beat his compatriot Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 in two hours and 10 minutes.

Federer did not put a foot wrong in the 26-minute first set, which saw him win the first five games. Although he could not convert two set point chances on Youzhny’s serve with a 5-0 lead, his domination was tempered when Youhzny regrouped by winning the first two games of the second set.

Federer clinched four straight games, but when he served for the set at 5-4, three backhand errors cost him. Youzhny went onto capitalise by winning just his fifth set – also 2000 Stockholm, 2003 Halle, 2011 Wimbledon, 2013 Halle – against Federer in their 17th meeting. It broke a streak of 16 sets for Federer in hard-court matches against Youzhny, dating back to their first clash in Sweden, which the Swiss star won 5-7, 6-4, 6-3.

In the third set, Federer saw his service speed drop on average by nine miles per hour from the previous two sets. Youzhny broke for a 3-2 and, seizing his chance, closed out the set on his third opportunity. Federer had grit hit teeth to save two set points in a 14-point ninth game.

Federer beat #NextGenATP American Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 in the first round on Tuesday.