French Open runner-up Robin Soderling moved closer to a possible US Open quarter-final showdown with Roger Federer by reaching the fourth round with a straight-set victory on Saturday. The Swedish fifth seed, who ended Federer's run of 23 Grand Slam semi-finals in a row with a French Open quarter-final upset, defeated 48th-ranked Dutchman Thiemo de Bakker 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 in brisk winds after one hour and 42 minutes.
"It was very tough. I was fighting the wind the whole time. During these conditions I played a pretty good match," Soderling said. "It's great to make it to the second week at the US Open. It will be very big next week." Soderling will play for a berth in the quarter-finals against Spanish 21st seed Albert Montanes, who led 6-2, 2-1 when 147th-ranked Japanese qualifier Kei Nishikori retired after only 38 minutes with a groin injury.