Federer eases through

Federer: No problems

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Roger Federer opened his bid for a fifth successive US Open title with a straightforward 6-3 6-0 6-3 triumph over Argentina's Maximo Gonzalez.

Federer has not won a Grand Slam this year, having lost in the finals of the French Open and Wimbledon to new world number one Rafael Nadal.

But Federer, who last year won his 12th Grand Slam title with victory at Flushing Meadows to move within two of Pete Sampras' record, was at home on the Arthur Ashe Stadium hardcourt, defeating world number 118 Gonzalez in one hour 21 minutes.

The 27-year-old, seeded number two at a Grand Slam for the first time since the 2004 Australian Open, broke Gonzalez in the eighth game and took the first set comfortably before winning the second set without dropping a game.

Gonzalez lost his opening service game in the third set, but broke back immediately before Federer regained control with a break in the seventh game.

That proved crucial as Federer completed a straight-sets triumph to set up a second round meeting with Brazilian Thiago Alves, the world number 137.

Pressure

"I think it was a good match to start off with," Federer said.

"I had never seen my opponent before. That was the tricky part. I thought the other guy played good for the pressure he was under."

Federer, who had his record streak of 237 consecutive weeks as the world number one end last week, has had little success lately.

He has just two singles titles this year - at Estoril and Halle - while losing to Nadal in the finals on four occasions but he remains unfazed after entering a Grand Slam as the number two seed for the first time since the 2004 Australian Open.

"One or two is always pretty much the same thing," Federer added.

"The change I feel is, fans are really supporting me and telling me I'm still number one and still the best, saying, 'You're going to be there again'.

"I feel like I've got unbelievable support from the fans watching me and seeing people in the streets and stuff. It's really nice."