Federer ‘too good’ for Blake

NEW YORK – Even as he was giving Roger Federer fits, James Blake felt the need to shout what so many were thinking: “You’re too good!”

The top-seeded Federer dropped a set and had a hard time putting away No. 5 Blake before finishing a 7-6 (7), 6-0, 6-7 (9), 6-4 victory on Thursday night at the U.S. Open to reach a record-tying 10th consecutive Grand Slam semifinal.

Even in the toughest of moments, Federer was so masterful that Blake and the partisan audience in Arthur Ashe Stadium showed their admiration. Some of Federer’s winners were met with applause from a capacity crowd of 23,712. Other shots made Blake acknowledge aloud how impressed he was.

“There are times you just have to say, ‘Too good,’ and move on,” said Blake, who came into the night 0-4 against Federer, having lost all 10 sets they’d played.

But the highest-ranked American did not go quietly, saving a total of three match points and breaking Federer twice when he served for the match, at 5-3 in the third set and 5-2 in the fourth, celebrating the latter with a little strut.

Federer, the two-time defending champion and the world’s top-ranked player, advanced to a semifinal Saturday against No. 7 Nikolay Davydenko, who dropped the first two sets in a half-empty stadium, then came back to beat No. 14 Tommy Haas 4-6, 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.

The other men’s semifinal will be No. 9 Andy Roddick against unseeded Mikhail Youzhny.

The women’s semifinals today feature three women who’ve been ranked No. 1 and won at least one Grand Slam title. No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo plays No. 3 Maria Sharapova, and No. 2 Justine Henin-Hardenne plays No. 19 Jelena Jankovic.

Martina Navratilova extended her remarkable career by at least one more match by teaming with Bob Bryan to reach the mixed doubles semifinals with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Frantisek Cermak.