Five-time US Open champion Roger Federer cruised into the fourth round with a 6-4 6-3 6-3 win over Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu in New York.
Federer, 29, did not have to be at his best as he reached the last 16 in total control at Flushing Meadows. Third seed Novak Djokovic proved too strong for crowd favourite James Blake as he secured a 6-1 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 win. The pair were joined in the last 16 by Robin Soderling after the Swede eased past Thiemo de Bakker 6-2 6-3 6-3. Second seed Federer revealed he had found the blustery conditions problematic on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Fourth seed Jelena Jankovic crashed out of the US Open at the third-round stage after losing to Estonia's Kaia Kanepi. Serbian Jankovic, 25, struggled from the start in strong winds in New York and Kanepi continued her impressive recent run with a 6-2 7-6 (7-1) win. Top seed Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark had no such problems, easing through 6-0 6-1 against Taiwan's Chan Yung-Jan. She faces 2006 champion Maria Sharapova in the fourth round after the Russian's 6-0 6-0 demolition of Beatrice Capra. But Jankovic's search for a maiden Grand Slam title continues and she never looked likely to progress in the difficult conditions.
Britain's Andy Murray says he will take heart from his thrashing of Stanislas Wawrinka in 2008 when they meet again in the US Open third round on Sunday.
Murray, 23, beat the Swiss 6-1 6-3 6-3 en route to the final two years ago and would love a repeat performance when they meet at about 2000 BST.
|
