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Roger Federer began his quest for his fifth consecutive US Open title in stunning fashion with a dominating 6-3 6-0 6-3 win over Maximo Gonzalez tonight.
The second seeded Swiss star, who lost his world No.1 ranking last week to Rafael Nadal, took just 82 minutes to dispatch the Argentine to advance to a second round meeting with Thiago Alves of Brazil.
“It was a good match to start off with,” Federer said.
“I thought I served well and really moved good for the first round. I went on a good roll at one point there.”
Federer, chasing his fifth straight US Open crown, is hoping another win at Flushing Meadows can salvage a season where he has won just two titles and failed to defend his Australian Open and Wimbledon crowns.
Against Gonzalez, he fired 15 aces and hammered 39 winners on the main Arthur Ashe Stadium court in front of a crowd of about 20,000.
He also converted seven of 13 break point opportunities and won 73 percent of his first serves.
“This take a little bit of pressure off me because I know a little more about where my game is at,” Federer said.
“I have to play more aggressively on hardcourt.”
On his next opponent, Federer added of Alves: “I don’t know much about him. I only know what he looks like.
“I watched him play a few points on TV today. I expect him to be a similar opponent who plays from the baseline.”
Federer suffered a surprising quarter-final loss to journeyman American James Blake in the Beijing Olympic men’s singles.
But he managed to turn a negative into a positive by winning the gold medal in doubles with countryman Stanislas Wawrinka.
Federer said winning gold in the Summer Games has rekindled his passion for the game.
“The Olympic gold in doubles gave me a great lift,” Federer said.
“It really inspired me and I hope to use that to do well here.
“It is a special memory. It was unbelievable to listen to the national anthem and share that moment with my friend.”
Federer, who has reached the semi-finals or better in 17 straight majors, remains two Grand Slam titles shy of tying Pete Sampras’ all-time record of 14.
Other seeded men’s winners today included, Fernando Gonzalez, Fernando Verdasco, Tommy Robredo, Ivo Karlovic and Igor Andreev.
Former world number one Marat Safin beat American journeyman Vince Spadea 3-6 6-2 6-3 4-6 6-4 while Germany’s Tommy Haas posted a mild upset over French 12th seed Richard Gasquet 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 5-7 7-5 6-2.
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