NEW YORK (Reuters) – After slow starts in his last two U.S. Open matches, Roger Federer took his game up a notch on Friday as he walloped Briton Dan Evans 6-2 6-2 6-1 to reach the last 16.
Aug 30, 2019; Flushing, NY, USA; Roger Federer of Switzerland hits to Daniel Evans of the United Kingdom the third round on day five of the 2019 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
The Swiss great was brimming with confidence from the start, taking advantage of the speedy hardcourts under the open roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium on a warm and sunny day.
Federer, who is seeking his sixth U.S. Open title, rifled 48 winners and 10 aces to see off Evans, who is now 0-3 lifetime against the 38-year-old.
Federer has had limited court time since his epic defeat to Novak Djokovic at the Wimbledon final in July but appeared to shake off any remaining rust with the win.
“I really enjoyed myself today. Beautiful sky and you guys out here also helped,” he said in an on-court interview in front of an adoring crowd.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion said he is not one to dwell on the past.
“At the end of the day what matters the most for me is that I am in the third round after those two sort of slow starts,” he told reporters.
“I gave myself another opportunity to do better, and I did.”
“You almost tend to forget what happened and you move forward.”
Next up for third seeded Federer is a meeting with either Pablo Carreno Busta or David Goffin, and Federer said he would not underestimate either opponent.
“They are both really quality baseliners,” he said, adding that he expected the 15th seed Goffin to come out on top in his tie with the Spaniard.
“I expect it to be tough, not like today anyway.”
Reporting by Rory Carroll, edting by Gene Cherry