Federer eases through

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:45

The world number one from Switzerland, looking to add to his French Open and Wimbledon titles in 2009, ran out a comfortable 6-1 6-3 7-5 winner over the 18-year-old wild card at Arthur Ashe Stadium on the first morning of the championship.

Federer had Britton shell-shocked from the start, sending down an ace as he won the first game to love on the way to a 3-0 lead, dropping just one point in the process.

The American got his serve going in the fourth game, successive aces getting him on the scoreboard but there was no halting the five-time defending champion for long and he wrapped up the opening set in just 18 minutes.

The second set began better than Britton could have expected after his drubbing, but the after the teenager broke Federer’s serve to love in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead, the 15-time grand slam winner stepped up a gear and rattle off a five-game winning streak to take a 2-0 lead.

The third set was more evenly contested but having again gone a break up at 4-3, Britton was immediately overpowered by the top seed, losing his serve and then falling 5-4 behind.

Britton held his next game but was again serving to save the match at 6-5.

He had game point three times to force a tie-break but gave each one up easily before a Federer cross-court winner set up match point and victory was sealed with a fizzing passing shot.

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