sport life: Roger Federer never looked in any danger of not reaching the last 16

US Open, Flushing Meadows
Dates: 30 August - 12 September Start time: 1600 BST
Coverage: Live text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles; updates on BBC Radio 5 live; live on Sky Sports

Federer never looked in any danger of not reaching the last 16

Five-time US Open champion Roger Federer cruised into the fourth round with a 6-4 6-3 6-3 win over Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu in New York.

Federer, 29, did not have to be at his best as he reached the last 16 in total control at Flushing Meadows.

He was joined in the fourth round by Robin Soderling after the Swede eased past Thiemo de Bakker 6-2 6-3 6-3.

French 17th seed Gael Monfils also advanced with a 7-6 (7-4) 6-7 (4-7) 6-2 6-4 victory over Janko Tipsarevic.

Second seed Federer revealed he had found the blustery conditions problematic on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

"Playing in the wind was so hard," said Federer. "Against the wind it only takes a little bit of a bad serving game and the other guy is back in the match. I think I did a good job on that front.

"I was taking chances and playing safe when it was important, so under the circumstances I was able to mix it up quite well, even though it was hard to time the ball.

"I think he found it really hard towards the end and that was good for me. After the first set I was able to break his will a little bit."

Soderling remains on a collision course to meet Federer - who he beat in the French Open quarter-finals - in the last eight, but with a tie against Spain's Alberto Montanes coming up he is not looking beyond that.

"Everybody has been telling me since the draw came out I'm playing Roger in the quarters. It's still far ahead," said fifth seed Soderling.

"It's always difficult to play against Roger and I have played him a lot of times. In any tournament they play, Roger and Rafa will be the favourites, but there are a lot of players who can beat them."

Before Federer can contemplate revenge for his Roland Garros reverse, he must defeat 13th seed Jurgen Melzer.

The Austrian enjoyed a 7-5 6-3 6-1 win over 22nd seed Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Three days after his 24th birthday, Monfils earned a third successive fourth-round berth in New York by holding off the challenge of Andy Roddick's conqueror Tipsarevic.

That set up an all-French last-16 battle with Richard Gasquet after the 24-year-old beat South Africa's Kevin Anderson 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 7-5.

Mardy Fish, one four Americans left in the men's draw, was made to work hard for his place in the last 16 by France's Arnaud Clement.

After collapsing in the fourth set, the 19th seed recovered his game to take the decider and the match 4-6 6-3 6-4 1-6 6-3.