Soderling Hits 30 Winners Past de Bakker For Montanes Clash

© Getty ImagesRobin Soderling won through to the fourth round in gusty conditions.

Fifth-seeded Swede Robin Soderling powered his way into the US Open fourth round on Saturday, negating the game of Dutchman Thiemo de Bakker by hitting 30 winners for a 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 win in one hour and 43 minutes on Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Soderling hit seven aces, dropping just seven points on first serve, and saved five of six break points to record his 39th win of the season. The two-time Roland Garros finalist is looking to capture his sixth tour-level title. He is now one victory away from equalling his best performance at the hard-court Grand Slam championship. Last year, the World No. 5 lost to Roger Federer in the quarter-finals.

Buy Tickets | TV Schedule

"[I] started my first match maybe not so great, but after that I think I played two pretty good matches," said Soderling. "Today was not easy. It was difficult conditions. I told myself before the match, it's not gonna be pretty. I played a pretty good match."

De Bakker, making his first appearance at Flushing Meadows, was bidding to become the first Dutchman to reach the last 16 a Grand Slam since Sjeng Schalken at Wimbledon in 2004. The World No. 48 dropped to a 26-18 match record on the season.

DEUCE Magazine: On The Rise... de Bakker

"I think it wasn't a pretty match," said de Bakker. "I think we were both struggling a little bit, actually. He was also struggling with his serve. I didn't serve well at all. So it was tough. He did better than me with the conditions."

Soderling, 26, will next challenge Spanish No. 21 seed Albert Montanes in the fourth round. Montanes was leading Japanese qualifier Kei Nishikori 6-2, 2-1 after 38 minutes of play when World No. 147 Nishikori retired with a groin injury. The 29-year-old Montanes has lifted two ATP World Tour trophies at the Estoril Open (d. Gil) and MercedesCup in Stuttgart (d. Monfils) this year.

Gael Monfils, the No. 17 seed, takes a 2-2 record into his last 16 match against his French compatriot Richard Gasquet.

Monfils advanced to the fourth round for the third consecutive year after hitting 17 aces and 56 winners past Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia in a 7-6(4), 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-4 win in three hours and 42 minutes. Tipsarevic, 26, committed 50 unforced errors and converted four of six break point opportunities. He dropped to a 19-17 season mark.

Gasquet won nine of 10 net approaches and hit 43 winners to reach the fourth round for the third time (also 2005-06). The 24 year old overcame South African Kevin Anderson 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-5 in two hours and 30 minutes.

"I think Richard is more talented than me in couple ways," said Monfils. "He can adapt more about the conditions. Then I think I'm stronger than him physically and maybe a bit mentally, also. Sometime he is like too defensive, like me. So actually it will be a good match."