Federer untroubled in US Open first round win

Originally published on: 27/08/13 00:00

The 17-time grand slam champion showed no signs of suffering with the back injury that interrupted his preparations for the year’s final major, moving through the first two sets with minimum fuss as his Slovenian opponent struggled to deal with the winds swirling around Arthur Ashe Stadium.

A break of serve late in the third set was the only blot on an otherwise straightforward victory, which keeps alive hopes of a potential quarter-final showdown with Rafael Nadal – their first at the US Open.

Wimbledon semi-finalist and No. 14 seed Jerzy Janowicz slumped to a shock first-round exit at the hands of Argentina’s Maximo Gonzalez, who overcame a sore back to win 6-4 6-4 6-2.

Janowicz’s exit, along with early departures for Ernests Gulbis and Grigor Dimitrov, beaten 3-6 6-3 6-4 5-7 6-2 by world No. 95 Joao Sousa, leaves David Ferrer and Juan Martin del Potro as the dominant forces in their quarter of the draw.

Milos Raonic booked himself a second-round showdown with Spain’s Pablo Andujar after both men progressed in straight sets, while it was a good days for the Americans – John Isner made light work of Filippo Volandri 6-0 6-2 6-3, while qualifier Donald Young found the going even easier against Martin Klizan en route to a 6-1 6-0 6-1 victory.

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