Five-time champ Federer off to fast start

NEW YORK, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Five-time defending champion Roger Federer swept through his first-round match Monday at the 2009 U.S. Open, the final tennis Grand Slam of the year.

The Swiss star defeated American Devin Britton 6-1, 6-3, 7-5 in 1 hour, 28 minutes during which he took advantage of Britton's 40 unforced errors.

Federer beat Andy Murray in last year's final to capture his Open Era-record fifth straight title. Federer is after his 16th major title to extend his own record and he has won the French Open and Wimbledon this season.

Monday's win was Federer's 35th straight at the U.S. Open (46-4 overall), with his last loss coming in 2003.

Federer will next play German Simon Greul, who beat Giovanni Lapentti of Ecuador 6-3, 4-6, 3-6, 6-0, 7-6 (11-9).

Also Monday, American James Blake defeated Spaniard Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo 6-1, 6-4, 7-5; Russian Nikolay Davydenko beat German Dieter Kindlmann 6-3, 6-4, 7-5; Swede Robin Soderling beat Spaniard Albert Montanes 6-1, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4; and Spaniard Tommy Robredo beat American Donald Young 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.