Federer Opens US Open Title Tilt

© Getty ImagesRoger Federer is bidding for a record-breaking sixth US Open title.

Five-time US Open champion Roger Federer did not have it all his own way in the first round, but finished strongly to defeat Santiago Giraldo 6-4, 6-3 6-2 in the Monday night session at the US Open.

It was not Federer’s tidiest display, but victory saw the 16-time major champion equal Andre Agassi’s total of 224 Grand Slam victories in the Open Era, second only to Jimmy Connors' leading mark of 233.

The 30-year-old Federer embarked on his bid to win an Open Era record sixth US Open title with a mixed performance against the No. 56-ranked Giraldo. He raced into a 5-1 lead, but a spate of unforced errors saw him surrender the double break, before regaining his composure to break again and claim the first set.

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The Swiss also squandered an early lead in the second set, but again responded well to the lapse to break Giraldo in the sixth game and close out a two-set lead. In a more dominant third set, Federer put paid to Giraldo’s challenge as he clinched victory in one hour and 46 minutes, having committed 35 unforced errors to 36 winners.

World No. 3 Federer, who has just one title to his name in 2011, is bidding to extend his record of winning at least one major trophy each year since 2003 and will continue his campaign against Israeli’s Dudi Sela. The No. 93-ranked Sela built on his strong Challenger performances this season to battle past Brazil’s Thomaz Bellucci 4-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-0.

French No. 7 seed Gael Monfils was also among the winners on day one at Flushing Meadows, coming through a tricky first-round encounter with upcoming Bulgarian talent Grigor Dimitrov 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-4 in two hours and 39 minutes. The 24-year-old Monfils had a strong lead up to the US Open, reaching the Washington final (l. to Stepanek) and back-to-back quarter-finals in Montreal and Cincinnati (l. to Djokovic both times). He improved to a 30-12 match record on the season.

Next up for Monfils is 2003 US Open runner-up and former World No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero, who fought past fellow Spaniard Pablo Andujar 1-6, 7-5, 5-7, 6-1, 6-3 in three hours and 32 minutes.

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