Federer aces French exam

Federer: Smooth progress

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Roger Federer marched into the last 16 of the US Open with a third successive straight-sets victory in New York.

The world number two overcame strong winds to beat France's Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-4 6-3 6-3 in one hour and 39 minutes on Arthur Ashe stadium.

The five-time champion is looking to reach his seventh straight final in New York and regain the title he relinquished to Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro 12 months ago.

Speaking after his routine win over Mathieu, Federer said: "I thought the first set was the key. He has some serious talent. We came through the juniors together and he used to toy around with me.

Aggressive

"I got a bit lucky in the first set, he had the first break point at 4-3 and after that I was able to break him back and maybe break his will a bit."

Federer, who fired down 13 aces and 31 winners against Mathieu, announced before the championships began that he has hired Paul Annacone as his coach full time after a successful trial period and added: "He's a good guy and we have known each other a long time since he was working with Pete (Sampras) and Tim (Henman).

"We had a good test after Wimbledon, he's making me play a little more aggressive and it's good to hear from someone new. I haven't lost many matches on the hard-court season."

Fifth seed Robin Soderling remains a possible quarter-final opponent for the Swiss after he cruised past Thiemo de Bakker 6-2 6-3 6-3 earlier on Saturday.

"Everybody has been telling me since the draw came out I'm going against Roger in the quarters," Soderling said. "It's still far ahead.

"I'm the fifth seed, so I know I'm gonna play one of the four top guys in quarters. They're all good players so it doesn't really matter who I'm playing.

Difficult

"I started my first match maybe not so great, but after that I think I played two pretty good matches. And today was not easy. It was difficult conditions. I told myself before the match, 'It's not gonna be pretty.'

"I think, given the circumstances, I played a pretty good match."

Spanish 21st seed Albert Montanes had earlier become the first man into the last 16 after Japan's Kei Nishikori was forced to retire from their third round match.

Montanes, the ninth Spaniard left in the draw, had won the first set 6-2 and was leading 2-1 in the second when Nishikori indicated he was unable to continue with a groin injury.

France's Gael Monfils also advanced to the last 16, the 17th seed beating Serbia's Janko Tipsarevic in four sets to set up an all-French clash with Richard Gasquet, who beat South African Kevin Anderson 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 7-5.