Stanislas Wawrinka Sees Off Querrey In Epic

Stanislas Wawrinka ended home hopes of an American lifting the U.S. Open title as the Swiss number two saw off Sam Querrey in an epic five set clash.

The match was tight from the off and Wawrinka prevailed after a four and a half hour battle, which disrupted the schedule for the rest of the day, but it was an enthralling match up all the same.

Despite coming through a four set battle with Andy Murray in the previous round Wawrinka showed no ill effects of the thigh strain that he was treated for in the final set.

A tie break was needed to decide the fate of the opening set and while Wawrinka finally got it under his belt he needed five set points to finally clinch it.

Into the second and it was just as tight a battle but it was the Swiss player who marked the breakthrough first as he got the much needed break under his belt.

And it looked like he was going to take a two sets lead as he served for the set at 5-4. But he was unable to convert any of the four set point chances as Querrey broke back to get the set back on serve.

Another tie break was needed and this time it was Querrey, who was roared on by the crowd, who came through to level the match at a set a piece. The momentum was with the American at the beginning of the third set as he secured an early break point chance.

But that advantage as Wawrinka broke back before breaking in the twelfth game to seal the third set 7-5. A single break of serve was all that was needed for Querrey to level the match as he broke in the seventh game to level the match.

Into a fifth and final set and both men looked like they could win the match. But it was Wawrinka who came under pressure first as he was forced to save three break points in the third.

But save them he did before he hit back in the tenth game with a break of serve that secured him a dramatic 7-6(9), 6-7(5), 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 win and a place in his first Grand Slam quarter final.

Speaking to the BBC after the match Wawrinka said: "It's the first time for me, so for sure I am very happy with that. It's something very important, and I knew before the match it was going to be tough, but I was really focused on the match, on staying with him."

Wawrinka will now play Mikhail Youzhny for a spot in the final. The Russian also came through a test when he faced Spaniard Tommy Robredo, but he managed to win in four sets.

Youzhny, who made the semi final in New York four years ago, was two sets up before Robredo hit back to take the third and force a fourth set as he tried to get back on level terms.

A single break was all the Russian needed to take the third set and the match 7-5 6-2 4-6 6-4.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw