Second seed Roger Federer comfortably booked his place in the third round of the US Open after a 7-5, 6-4, 6-4 win over Benoit Paire of France on Thursday.
The Basel native was in imperious form as he continued his quest for a record sixth title in New York. The 20-time Grand Slam champion needed just 116 minutes to see off Paire, who had lost all his six previous matches with Federer.
Federer made an extremely swift start to the match, breaking the Frenchman early in the fifth game of the opening set in classically effortless style. However, Paire was able to fight back almost immediately as a sloppy game by Federer handed Paire a break point in the eighth game. And the Swiss went on to hit another wayward forehand to concede the game. It was all square in the first set.
Despite the setback in game No. 8, Federer wasn’t to be denied as he swiped a heavy backhand to take control of the break-point rally, and then struck another beautiful backhand to win it. The former World No.1 took the all important service break in the 11th game with a flashing forehand winner down the line and subsequently claimed the opening set as he powered through to a comfortable hold of serve in the ensuing game.
Just like the first set, Federer made his move in the 5th game of the second set. As Federer began to apply pressure on Paire, the man from France started getting frustrated with himself. And at 30-all, a backhand winner gave Federer break-point, which the five-time champion converted with the help of a double fault by Paire.
Even though Paire had a point to break right back in the next game, Federer somehow managed to consolidate the break with the assistance of a stunning backhand, which pulled his opponent wide. The 37-year-old continued with his magic at the net in the following few games before finishing off the set with an ace to take a commanding two set lead in the encounter.
Federer seemed to be in some sort of hurry in the third set as he quickly grabbed the first break of serve in the third game before securing a second break of serve in the fifth game to take a decisive 4-1 lead in the set. But, Federer out of nowhere lost his momentum and handed back one of the breaks to Paire in the next game. Federer though promptly regained his focus to hold his serve, to love in the eighth game before wrapping the match with another service hold in the tenth game.
