US OPEN: ANOTHER CHANCE FOR FEDERER

US Open: Another chance for Federer

Confident, aggressive and with nothing to lose, Roger Federer arrives at the US Open with another good opportunity to clinch grand slam number 18.

Arriving at Flushing Meadows in winning form has rarely been a problem for the Swiss great, who clinched the Cincinnati title for a seventh time heading in.

Since winning five straight in New York - that run ending in 2008 - Federer has only been back to the final once, going down to Juan Martin del Potro the following year.

But, more recently, his chances heading into the year's final grand slam have been played down, with uncertainty over how he could match it with his fellow Big Four members.
With Rafael Nadal struggling, especially during the North American hard-court swing, Federer is suddenly a more likely contender.

While his performances in Cincinnati, where the faster courts suit, have been strong, this year was impressive.

For the first time since 2009 - when he last reached the US Open final - Federer beat both Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic on his way to the title.

The 34-year-old particularly surprised the Serbian world number one with his aggression on return, even taking some on the half-volley.

Those opportunities are created by Federer's characteristically strong serving as he went through the entire tournament in Ohio without being broken.

The approach on return is something Federer plans to do more often, with long baseline exchanges no longer suiting him against younger, fitter and more powerful opponents.
"I'll still go back and return some from far back as well," he said.

"I'll always mix it up and make it uncomfortable for my opponent. I'm not going to play the way they like it.
"I'll always come out and make it an athletic match or make it uncomfortable in the sense that they don't know what's coming."

Flushing Meadows' courts lack the speed of Cincinnati, unfortunately for Federer, and warm weather is expected.
The recent tournament win also saw the Swiss great return to number two in the rankings, a huge advantage after Murray drew unpredictable Australian Nick Kyrgios in the first round.

Federer should be relatively comfortable early on against Leonardo Mayer, but potentially faces John Isner (fourth round), Tomas Berdych (quarter-final) and Murray (semi-final).

If time is running out for Federer, it is yet to show. Chances may be though, and this shapes as another big one.