Federer enjoying windy conditions

It is one thing that Roger Federer has such a full box of tennis tools, with which he already has built shining monuments to success in the sport. But now he has gotten to the point that he seems to feel that the quirks of nature are on his side as well.

While virtually everyone else is bemoaning the unusually persistent winds at this year's U.S. Open, Federer has said he actually likes dealing with the tempest. Others fret about service tosses being yanked aside, napkins flying onto the court, ground strokes flying long. But Federer . . .

"I see it as a challenge and I see it as an opportunity to play differently," Federer said after his advance into tomorrow's semifinals against Novak Djokovic. "It's not easy, you know. It's cold. Everywhere it's blowing. You feel like it's blowing through your ears and into your eyes.

"But I think I used to dislike it so much that I'm on the other side now. I was able to turn it around and kind of take enjoyment out of playing in the wind, actually."

Against Robin Soderling in Wednesday night's quarterfinal, Federer turned a tight first set his way in the seventh game with a lob that appeared headed for the first row of seats until the wind knocked it down for a winner. And proceeded to join forces with the weather to steadily erode Soderling, mentally and physically.

As Soderling noted, the conditions are "difficult for everybody; it's the same for everybody." Except that Federer was conjuring a surprising control at the most crucial moments. "He was brushing the lines a lot of times with his first serve, which is not easy when the weather is like this," Soderling said.

So not only is Federer performing as if he is comfortable with the elements, he also could be planting - by expressing a relish for the chore-a bit of extra worry into the minds of already distracted contenders.

Among those who have handled the pernicious, fickle gusts well so far is Djokovic, who declared himself "really happy with the way I'm using my experience." But he hardly voiced an enjoyment of the added challenge. And to be matched a fourth consecutive year against Federer on the Open's last weekend - Federer beat him in the 2007 final and in the last two semifinals - should be imposing enough.

Ivan Lendl, a three-time Open champion and five-time finalist in the 1980s, noted during a visit to the tennis center last week that having a few Grand Slam titles in one's pocket "already changes how people look at you. There is more respect and fear from opponents."

A record 16 major championships for Federer, won on three different surfaces and in varying conditions, ought to be impressive enough in considering his chances to win a sixth time at Flushing Meadows. And now: Wind? What wind?

"When it's windy," Federer said, "I don't struggle much in it, really. Now, from the baseline, look, I also shanked some balls and I also mis-timed a few and mis-read a few, like we all did. But you just have to be ready to make little adjustments, stay very focused and concentrate, maybe not chase the lines as much."

And go with the blow.