Quarter-final result:

R FEDERER (Swi) bt J BLAKE (US)

7-6 (9-7) 6-0 6-7 (9-11) 6-4

* denotes server

By Piers Newbery

Fourth set

Federer 6-4 Blake
Federer eases 30-0 ahead before another blockbuster Blake return and a double fault get the crowd screaming again. A stunning Federer backhand gets the Swiss to match point for the second time, but he puts a forehand long.

Blake then nets a makeable backhand and it's match point again. Another forehand error - is Federer feeling the pressure? Yet another forehand error and Blake has a break point, but he sprays a backhand return outside the tram lines.

A big serve gets Federer to match point number four. Finally he edges home when Blake nets a backhand but the world number one was a worried man by the end.

Federer 5-4 Blake
Blake absolutely hammers down his serve to put some real pressure on Federer to serve out at the third time of asking.

Federer 5-3 Blake
As so often happens, being on the brink of defeat brings the best out of a player. Blake opens his shoulders and breaks again with some fierce winners. Federer has now failed to serve out the match twice.

Federer 5-2 Blake
Federer looks surprisingly grumpy as Blake keeps him out on court a little longer. The world number one even challenges a call on the American's game point, prompting a few boos from the locals and a big cheer when he's proved wrong.

Federer 5-1 Blake
Blake has a lifeline at 30-30 but his return hits the net cord and flops back on his side. He nets the next return and it's all but over.

Federer 4-1 Blake
Federer gets to break - and surely virtual match point - but Blake holds on with a solid volley. It is only a momentary stay of execution, however, as Federer gets another chance and thumps away a forehand for the double break.

Federer 3-1 Blake
No mistake this time from Federer, who consolidates the break with a solid hold.

Federer 2-1 Blake
Federer swipes a cross-court forehand that throws Blake off balance. Another forehand winner follows and it's 15-40 - two break points. Federer converts in a superb point that sees Blake throw up a desperate lob to stay in the rally before Federer's third forehand winner of the game.

Federer 1-1 Blake
Federer opens with a double fault and a woeful forehand. A Blake forehand pass takes him to 0-40 and three break points. Federer hits a service winner, a big serve and a forehand, and another service winner. Quality stuff.

Federer 0-1 Blake
Blake holds serve to 15 and looks capable of making a match of it at the moment. Federer has gone off the boil, although another purple patch is usually not far away so the American needs to take advantage while he can.

Third set

Federer 6-7 (9-11) Blake
It may not be Borg v McEnroe but that is still one of the best tie-breaks you could wish to see. Federer leads 5-3 at one stage but cannot convert.

Blake saves a match point with a backhand winner, Federer saves four set points before finally succumbing to the power of the American. It's the first time Federer has dropped a set in the tournament.

Federer 6-6 Blake
Federer puts the pressure on with a backhand winner to get to 40-30 down - just three points from victory - but Blake comes through with a forehand winner.

Federer 6-5 Blake
Blake resorts to a left-handed forehand at one stage but cannot prevent a Federer love-service game.

Federer 5-5 Blake
Blake holds to love and the crowd goes bananas - the match is back on.

Federer 5-4 Blake
Federer may be the best in the world but he's not always the best at serving out - Blake earns a break point and hits his best shot of the day with a huge cross-court forehand winner. Incredibly, the match goes on.

Federer 5-3 Blake
The crowd holds up the start of the game with a very enthusiastic Mexican wave. Blake smiles and watches it go around the stadium, Federer looks completely disinterested. The game starts and he swiftly moves to 0-30 before hitting the best shot, not only of this match, but almost certainly the tournament and probably the year.

From outside the tram lines he lets rip on a cross-court backhand that is nothing more than a blur as it whistles past Blake - a truly incredible stroke. Federer breaks to love.

Federer 4-3 Blake
If Federer is disappointed by letting four break points slip in the previous game, he hides it well. It's another love-service game.

Federer 3-3 Blake
It's hard to pick a highlight from this performance but a Federer backhand winner down the line, off a Blake cross-court forehand, will be hard to beat. Stunning. Blake falls 0-40 and surely the game is up?

Well, no actually. With the situation so dire, Blake opens his shoulders and plays three excellent points to get back to deuce. He fends off another break point and holds, a fine effort.

Federer 3-2 Blake
A smooth forehand down the line, a ferasome ace and another big serve help Federer to a love game. At the moment, it seems just a matter of time until Blake is broken again.

Federer 2-2 Blake
Blake stays in touch, just, securing the game with a body serve.

Federer 2-1 Blake
Blake has a vital chance to get a foothold in the match but Federer slams the door shut with a big first serve on break point. He soon wraps up the game with an off-forehand into the corner.

Federer 1-1 Blake
An easy Blake service game gives the crowd a boost and gets the American's "J-BLock" fan club up on their feet again.

Federer 1-0 Blake
Things are looking up for Blake when he takes the first point with a cracking forehand. It only seems to rile Federer, though, and the world number one reels off the next four points. Eight games in a row now.

Second set

Federer 6-0 Blake
This may not be much fun for Blake, or the partisan home crowd, but it is breathtaking stuff from Federer at the moment. More winners take him to triple set point at 0-40. Blake gamely hangs on with two good points before another net cord puts paid to the second set.

Federer 5-0 Blake
It's not long since Blake had set points to take the lead - at the moment he's just trying to preserve his dignity. Federer has silenced the crowd with a clinical display in this set.

Federer 4-0 Blake
James Blake is forced into a smile after two extraordinary winners put Federer 0-30 ahead. He's not playing badly but he's caught in the middle one of Federer's unplayable moods at the moment. Another break and this set is surely done and dusted.

Federer 3-0 Blake
A bit of pressure from Blake but Federer's sheer variety of shots is proving the difference. The Swiss comes up with another drop-shot winner, a cross-court forehand and a cross-court backhand.

Federer 2-0 Blake
A fantastic game - unless you're James Blake. Federer senses his moment and goes for the kill, winning one rally after scrambling for a Blake smash and converting his second break point with a fizzing backhand pass down the line.

Federer 1-0 Blake
After the fever pitch excitement of the tie-break, the atmosphere falls a little flat. Federer won't mind - he holds to love.

First set

Federer 7-6 (9-7) Blake
Blake will be feeling sick after losing the tie-break. He wins five points in a row from 4-1 down to earn two set points. Federer fires an ace and then dominates the following rally after Blake tosses in a meek serve. Another chance comes and goes for the American before Federer converts his first chance thanks to a Blake net cord.

Federer 6-6 Blake
Federer really needs to keep the ball away from the Blake forehand for a while. The world number one holds to 30 but takes a few heavy blows from the American's best shot on the way.

Federer 5-6 Blake
Blake is now dominating the rallies with his forehand - something highlighted by one woeful backhand drop shot that barely reaches the net. No matter, the American gets back to business in the next point and he is in command at the moment.

Federer 5-5 Blake
Federer double faults to slip to 15-30 - a chance for Blake? He nets a backhand return on the next point. Federer then challenges a huge serve that is called out but the replay says the call was good, and when he smashes a forehand into the net it's break point. Blake forces the error with a crunching forehand and they're back on level terms.

Federer 5-4 Blake
It was coming. Blake had played well to stay with Federer but he is broken to love, the winning point coming with a drop shot return that prompts a collective gasp from 23,000 New Yorkers. Brilliant stuff from Federer.

Federer 4-4 Blake
Magnificent serving from Federer - either beating Blake hands down or pulling him out wide and finishing from mid-court. One missed drop shot is the only blight on another easy Federer service game.

Federer 3-4 Blake
Blake is still thumping everything as though his life depended on it. No-one will want to buy these balls after the battering they've taken. Ther American holds with a very big forehand.

Federer 3-3 Blake
Successive aces from 15-15 put Federer in control. The Swiss then tries a couple more forays to the net and loses both points. At deuce, yet another challenge on a serve is successful - this time in Blake's favour. Federer comes through with two service winners. Girlfriend Mirka looks happy enough in crowd, wrapped up in a huge (fake?) fur coat.

Federer 2-3 Blake
Federer kicks off the game with a drop shot that is so good it's almost funny. However, Blake stays with him, largely through sheer muscle on serve and his favoured forehand, before finding a superb backhand pass when Federer approaches the net.

Federer 2-2 Blake
A frighteningly good love-service game from Federer. He looks in top form already tonight.

Federer 1-2 Blake
Federer hits three sublime forehand winners, one of which brings an embarrassing air shot from Blake. The first break point of the match soon arrives but Blake comes up trumps with a huge serve. At deuce, Blake apparently puts a backhand wide but he is successful with the third challenge in three games and goes on to hold with a second-serve ace.

Federer 1-1 Blake
Federer challenges again - this time Hawkeye says he is wrong but by the tiniest of margins. The Swiss does not look impressed but holds serve anyway.