NEW YORK, (Reuters) – Five-times champion Roger Federer dismissed Paul-Henri Mathieu of France 6-4 6-3 6-3 yesterday to reach the fourth round of the U.S. Open.
The Swiss number two seed had more trouble from the gusting winds at Flushing Meadows than he did with the game of Mathieu as he ran out a comfortable winner.
“I thought I played great today in the wind,” Federer said in a courtside interview. “I think he had break point at 4-3 but once I was able to save it and break him, I think it broke his will maybe.”“
With gusting winds blowing across the court, both players were more watchful than normal but Federer’s consistency and a good serving day, with 13 aces, saw him through.
Mathieu’s only chance came when he forced a break point in the eighth game but Federer saved it with a service winner and after holding, broke the Frenchman’s serve and served it out.
Federer broke twice to win the second set and then in the sixth game of the third and though he fell behind 40-0 when serving for the match at 5-3, he held on to clinch victory in one hour 39 minutes.
Federer, whose winning streak in New York was ended in the final last year by Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro, will now play either 13th seed Jurgen Melzer of Austria or Juan Carlos Ferrero, the 22nd seed from Spain.
“I came through the juniors with both of those guys,” Federer said. “I will have my hands full. Regardless who comes through I know it’s going to be a tough match.”
