Vintage Fedex, Rafa surge ahead

Five-time champion Roger Federer breezed past Argentina’s Carlos Berlocq 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 on Thursday, taking another step closer to a first-ever US Open showdown with long-time rival Rafael Nadal.
Federer needed just 95 minutes to see off 48th-ranked Berlocq, who has never defeated a top-10 opponent and never looked like breaking that streak on Thursday. The seventh-seeded Federer will face either 26th-seeded Sam Querrey of the United States or France’s Adrian Mannarino for a place in the last 16 with a clash with Nadal a tantalizing prospect in the quarterfinals.

‘I didn’t know Rafa was in my quarter -- I’m kidding,’ said Federer, who is playing at his lowest ranking at a major in 11 years. ‘I am well aware of the draw, but at the moment I am clearly focusing on round by round and it would be a big mistake if I was thinking too much about Rafa.  ‘I would love to be in that situation but for that to happen I have to keep playing well and keep winning.’ Second seed Rafael Nadal moved comfortably into the US Open third round on Thursday with a 6-2, 6-1, 6-0 win over Brazilian journeyman Rogerio Dutra Silva.

The victory took the second-seeded Spaniard’s 2013 record to 55 wins against just three losses and edged him closer to a potential quarter-final clash with old rival Roger Federer.  ‘I was solid with the serve which is always important,’ said Nadal, whose hardcourt record this year now stands at 17-0 thanks to his 92-minute triumph on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

‘I played better as the match developed. It was great to be back on court in the night session for the first time in two years. It’s amazing, it’s a great court.’ The 2010 US Open winner and 12-time Grand Slam champion next faces Croatia’s Ivan Dodig, the world number 38, who surprisingly beat him the last time they met on hardcourt in Montreal in 2011.

Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka advanced to the third round of the US Open on Thursday by defeating Canada’s Aleksandra Wozniak 6-3, 6-1.  Belarus second seed Azarenka moved into a match-up against French 26th seed Alize Cornet for a berth in the last 16.

Azarenka, who had 16 winners and 19 unforced errors, improved to 3-0 in top-level matches against Wozniak, who until this week had played only two matches in the past 12 months because of a right shoulder injury. ‘I’m glad I got the first set,’ Azarenka said. ‘I was able to force the rhythm better in the second set.’

Tearful Sara Errani became the US Open’s highest-seeded casualty on Thursday and admitted filling the famous shoes of the absent Maria Sharapova in the New York pecking order was overwhelming. Errani lost to Flavia Penetta 3-6, 1-6.

Defending champion Serena Williams defeated Russian-born Kazakh Galina Voskoboeva 6-3, 6-0 on Thursday in a match postponed from Wednesday by rain. Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki raced to a 6-1, 6-2 win over South Africa’s Chanelle Scheepers.