Federer Outclasses Mathieu For Last 16 Berth; Djokovic Eyes Another Deep Run

© AFP/Getty ImagesRoger Federer has a 54-5 record at the US Open.

Five-time former champion Roger Federer didn't let blustery conditions trouble him in extending his perfect record to 5-0 over Paul-Henri Mathieu of France on Saturday at the US Open.

Second seed Federer beat Mathieu 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 in one hour and 39 minutes to book his place in the fourth round. The Swiss superstar has yet to drop a set at Flushing Meadows this year and has a 54-5 overall tournament record.

He converted four of six break point opportunities and struck 13 aces past former World No. 12 Mathieu, now at No. 109 in the South African Airways 2010 ATP Rankings.

"The wind was very strong," said Federer. "I think you could tell Mathieu was really struggling after being down in the score.  His serve, his returns, everything kind of falls into pieces. That's what the wind can do to you. I kind of felt comfortable, because you can also use it to your advantage and play really great tennis. You have to be careful with it. After four games or so, I knew what I could do and what I couldn't do."

Federer came into his 44th straight Grand Slam championship having won the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters title in Cincinnati (d. Fish). He has a 42-10 match record on the season.

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American Mardy Fish, the No. 19 seed, won the fifth five-set match of his career (5-7 overall) on Saturday evening to move within one victory of equalling his best US Open result (2008 quarter-finals). Fish recorded his first win in seven years over France's Arnaud Clement with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 win in three hours and 32 minutes.

"You just get goosebumps playing a match like that when the crowd's like that," said Fish about the atmosphere on Louis Armstrong Stadium.

"To say it's not stressful [playing a fifth set] would probably be lying.  But you're just in the moment so it's tough to really take it all in. You just want to win so bad, especially making it to the second week of a Grand Slam or going home."

Fish, who finished third in this year's Olympus US Open Series behind Andy Murray and Federer, has reached four finals in his past six tournaments and climbed from World No. 108 in March to No. 21. He has a 37-13 match record on the season.

Novak Djokovic, who has reached the semi-finals of better the past three years at Flushing Meadows, raced through the first set against James Blake in just 22 minutes en route to a 6-1, 7-6(4), 6-3 win. The third-seeded Serbian will next face Blake's close friend Fish.

Djokovic said that he was pleased with his focus in trying conditions. "It's a big mental struggle when you have such a strong wind to find a way how to try to play good tennis, especially if you have somebody across the net who is so aggressive, taking everything early and playing a risky game. My focus today was great."

Looking ahead to his fourth-round meeting with Fish, Djokovic said, "I think he's playing maybe his best tennis at this moment. He's moving really well. He's serving as good as he served always. He has a lot of talent. He's recognizing the moment, coming to the net. He has a lot of variety in the game. I guess I have to be on the top of my game to be able to win."