New York, Sep 6 (IANS) Swiss five-time champion Roger Federer, Stanislas Wawrinka and Scot Andy Murray advanced to the US Open fourth round here.
Federer on Saturday encountered more resistance than in his first two matches, but the second seed still advanced with a comfortable 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Philipp Kohlschreiber.
After not losing his serve in two easy victories earlier this week over Argentina’s Leonardo Mayer and Belgium’s Steve Darcis, Federer was broken twice against the 29th seeded German, once in the second set and again in the third set, Efe reported.
But the 34-year-old also created eight break-point chances and converted five of them en route to clinching victory in just one hour and 33 minutes.
The 17-time Major champion, who shares the record for US Open men’s singles titles with Americans Pete Sampras and Jimmy Connors, will next take on big-serving American John Isner, who led Jiri Vesely 6-3, 6-4 when the unseeded Czech retired with a neck injury.
Third seeded Murray went past Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 and he will face 14th seed Kevin Anderson in the pre-quarterfinals.
The South African beat Austria’s Dominic Thiem 6-3, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (3) to enter the fourth round for the first time in the US Open.
Swiss fourth seeded Wawrinka overcame Belgian Ruben Bemelmans with a 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-4 win to advance to the next round where he will play American Donald Young.
In other men’s third round singles action, 12th seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet trounced 24th seeded Australian Bernard Tomic 6-4, 6-3, 6-1 and sixth seeded Czech Tomas Berdych topped Spain’s Guillermo Garcia Lopez 6-7 (2-7), 7-6 (9-7), 6-3, 6-3.
In women’s third round action, world No.2 Simona Halep beat American qualifier Shelby Rogers 6-2, 6-3 to reach the fourth round.
Halep was not in her best form, hitting only 57 percent of her first serves and striking 12 winners compared to nine unforced errors. But it was enough for the second seed taking away the victory from her opponent.
In the fourth round, Halep will play 24th seed Sabine Lisicki of Germany, who beat Barbora Strycova of Czech Republic 6-4, 4-6, 7-5.
Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka beat Angelique Kerber 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 to set up a clash against American Vervara Lepchenko, who moved past Mona Barthel 1-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Fifth seeded Petra Kvitova routed 32nd seeded Slovakian Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 6-2, 6-1, Britain’s Johanna Konta followed up her upset of ninth seeded Spaniard Garbiñe Muguruza by defeating 18th seeded German Andrea Petkovic 7-6 (7-2), 6-3. Czech Kvitova and Konta will face-off in the next round.
Australian 22nd seeded Sam Stosur pulled away for a 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 victory over 16th seeded Italian Sara Errani, who will next face Flavia Pannetta following her 1-6, 6-1, 6-4 triumph over Petra Cetkovska