Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic were at their dominant best at the US Open on Friday as both cruised into the round of 16 with straight-sets victories.
After making sluggish starts in his previous two matches, five-times winner Federer took his game up a notch to power past Briton Dan Evans 6-2 6-2 6-1 under the open roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium on a sunny day, reports Reuters.
The 38-year-old fired 48 winners and 10 aces to shake off any remaining rust since his Wimbledon final defeat by Djokovic earlier this year and faces Belgium’s David Goffin next.
“At the end of the day what matters the most for me is that I am in the third round after those two sort of slow starts,” Federer told reporters.
“I gave myself another opportunity to do better, and I did. You almost tend to forget what happened and you move forward.”
The Swiss was joined in the next round by defending champion Djokovic who shrugged off a left shoulder injury that hampered him in his last match and beat American Denis Kudla 6-3 6-4 6-2.
Up next for the Serbian is former champion Stan Wawrinka who fought off a determined Paolo Lorenzi to secure a 6-4 7-6(9) 7-6(4) victory.
Fifth seed Daniil Medvedev overcame Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 7-6(1) 4-6 7-6(7) 6-4 in the final match of the day.
American Serena Williams continued her charge towards a record-equalling 24th career Grand Slam title with a comfortable 6-3 6-2 victory over Czech Karolina Muchova. She next takes on Croatian 22nd seed Petra Martic.
“I think I had a lot of intensity today which was really good for me,” Williams said. “I don’t know how I would grade my performance. Just gotta keep playing and believing.”
Second seed Ash Barty outclassed Greece’s Maria Sakkari 7-5 6-3 while Madison Keys beat fellow American Sofia Kenin 6-3 7-5. Czech third seed Karolina Pliskova defeated an ailing Ons Jabeur 6-1 4-6 6-4.
