World number one Roger Federer produced a phenomenal display to see off a fired-up Andy Roddick 7-6 7-6 6-2 in a stunning US Open quarter-final.
Roddick did not face a break point in the first two sets but Federer saved his best for the tiebreaks.
In the first, a backhand pass proved decisive and in the second, Federer crunched a return at Roddick's feet.
Federer finally broke at 3-2 in the third set before Roddick crumbled to his 10th straight defeat to the Swiss.
"I tried to hang in there," said Federer. "It was a tough match, and he was serving out of a tree. But I came through in the end."
The world number one will face Nikolay Davydenko in the semi-finals. He has a 9-0 career record against the Russian.
Roddick must once again go back to the drawing board but it is difficult to imagine what more he can do to get the better of Federer.
The American, playing in front of his home crowd, was pumped up from the start, hitting his forehand with venom and approaching the net with some success.
But Federer refused to be bullied.
The 11-time Grand Slam champion bided his time until the tiebreak, unleashed a stunning backhand cross-court pass to take the mini-break before sealing the set with an ace.
Roddick had not faced a break point and had hit more winners than his opponent, yet he was a set behind.
The second set followed a similar pattern.
Roddick kept up his intensity, often jogging to his chair at the changeover and returning to the court well before time was called to wait for the world number one.
Federer remained unmoved. The tiebreak arrived and this time Federer earned and then squandered a mini-break.
Roddick delivered a huge serve at 4-4 which Federer fizzed back on the backhand, the ball landing right at his opponent's feet.
The crowd gasped, Roddick looked stunned and Federer won his next two service points to take a two-set lead.
Still, Roddick's body language continued to exude confidence - until his mighty serve was finally broken.
A running backhand pass gave Federer two break points and though Roddick saved the first, the world number one made no mistake on the second and the American's stirring challenge finally faded.
Roddick remained defiant after the match, saying: "I don't think it was a piece of cake for him. I thought I made him play as well as he could play.
"I'm not walking with my head down. I played my ass off out there. I played the right way. It helps, but that doesn't mean I can't be annoyed."
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~30~RS~)