Roger Federer saved the break of serve for last, doing what no man had managed to do for two years at the United States Open against John Isner.
But by then, Federer already had this fourth-round duel firmly under control.
Isner, the last American man remaining in the draw, came out with a right-minded, aggressive game plan and plenty of positive energy.
But despite all of Isner’s best efforts, he could not find a way to win a set against Federer, the Swiss star who continued his fine summer-long impression of peak Federer on a muggy Monday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium.