Roger Federer into US Open quarters as Mardy Fish pulls out

US Open

  • Venue: Flushing Meadows
  • Dates: 27 August - 9 September

Coverage: Listen on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra and online; live text commentary on the day's best match

World number one Roger Federer made the US Open quarter-finals without hitting a ball after his opponent Mardy Fish withdrew for health-related reasons.

Five-time champion Federer will face Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych for a place in the semi-finals in New York.

Berdych beat Spaniard Nicolas Almagro 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 6-1 in round four.

Twelfth seed seed Marin Cilic beat Slovakian Martin Klizan 7-5 6-4 6-0 to set up a quarter-final against Britain's Andy Murray.

Third seed Murray beat Canadian Milos Raonic 6-4 6-4 6-2 in their fourth-round match.

Fish was out for about two months earlier this season because of an accelerated heartbeat, and he had a medical procedure in May.

Men's quarter-final line-up

  • Roger Federer (Swi) v Tomas Berdych (Cze)
  • Marin Cilic (Cro) v Andy Murray (GB)
  • Janko Tipsarevic (Ser) or Philipp Kohlschreiber (Ger) v Richard Gasquet (Fra) or David Ferrer (Spa)
  • Juan Martin Del Potro (Arg) or Andy Roddick (US) v Stanislas Wawrinka (Swi) or Novak Djokovic (Ser)

The 30-year-old American's third-round match against Gilles Simon went five sets, lasting more than three hours and finishing after 1am local time on Sunday.

Fish's agent, John Tobias, said: "We are not 100% sure what the issue is and if it is related to his previous issues."

"I was reluctant to [withdraw] but am following medical [advice]," said Fish in a statement.

"I had a good summer and look forward to resuming my tournament schedule in the fall."

"I am really sorry for Mardy," said Federer, who has now reached 38 Grand Slam tournament quarter-finals, three shy of the record 41 achieved by Jimmy Connors. "I just want to wish him a speedy recovery. We all want to see him back on tour soon.

"It will be a tough match against Tomas. We have played many times in the past and he has always been a tough opponent. I will have to continue to serve well and dictate the points."