US OPEN: Federer relishing revenge mission with Soderling

By Sportsbeat staff

ROGER Federer will get the chance to avenge his French Open defeat when he takes on Robin Soderling in the quarter-finals of the US Open.

TOUGH TASK: Five-time champion Roger Federer will face Robin Soderling, who beat him at the French Open, in the quarter-finals of the US Open (Reuters)

The world number five Swede has developed a taste of upsetting big names in Slam tournaments but Federer is looking supreme as he continues a relentless march through the early rounds in pursuit of a sixth title at Flushing Meadows.

Jurgen Melzer was brushed aside 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 and while Federer leads Soderling 12-1 in head-to-head results, he hasn't forgotten him ending his run of reaching 23 consecutive Grand Slam semi-finals at Roland Garros.

"He's always been a dangerous player but these days he's been able to do it consistently, at the highest level - so this is a tough draw for me, playing him in the quarters," said Federer.

"I expect it to be really tough, especially now that he has got a taste of how to beat me in Paris.

"He's been able to string together a few good years now on the tour. Before he was very good already but he was a bit up and down. That's also maybe why his ranking was a bit lower. Now he is playing really well.

"It's up to me to clean up my game and put in a good performance. I haven't lost a set yet so I'm really happy. I'm finding a way to win, playing the right way, playing aggressively. I've worked extremely hard and it's paying off.

Soderling lost the first set to Spain's Alberto Montanes but rebounded to progress 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 in relatively easy fashion while third seed Novak Djokovic took less than two hours to beat Mardy Fish 6-3, 6-4, 6-1.

"It was a great performance and probably my best so far in the tournament," said Djokovic, who has reached the last eight in 13 of his last 15 major tournaments.

Caroline Wozniacki's top seed status has been questioned by many but she produced an impressive 6-3, 6-4 over former champion Maria Sharapova.

Still without a major victory, she now faces unseeded Slovakian Dominika Cibulkova, who beat Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-5, 7-6.

But her true test will come in his likely tests ahead against either Venus Williams or defending champion Kim Clijsters.

"I definitely think I've improved a lot, not only physically, but also I believe in myself more," she said. "I believe I can do it."