Federer, Soderling, Djokovic notch wins

NEW YORK, Sept. 4 (UPI) -- Roger Federer, Robin Soderling and Novak Djokovic each breezed to victories Saturday and advanced to the fourth round of the U.S. Open.

No. 2 seed Federer had little trouble downing Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 at windy Ashe Stadium, needing only 1 hour, 39 minutes for the victory.

The Swiss superstar tore off 13 aces and held serve throughout the match against Mathieu while improving his career U.S. Open record to 54-5 in seeking his sixth career New York title.

No. 5 seed Soderling, meanwhile, dispatched Dutchman Thiemo de Bakker 6-2, 6-3, 6-3, to reach the Sweet 16. Soderling was helped by 35 unforced de Bakker errors. The aggressive Swede broke de Bakker's serve six times.

Soderling will next face 21st-seeded Spaniard Albert Montanes, who defeated Kei Nishikori 6-2, 2-1 when the Japanese retired with a groin injury.

Third-seeded Djokovic handled American James Blake 6-1, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3, in an evening match. The Serbian star fired four aces against Blake, who also committed 31 unforced errors.

Djokovic now faces American Mardy Fish, who advanced to the Round of 16 by staving off Frenchman Arnaud Clement 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.

Elsewhere at Flushing Meadows Saturday, 17th-seeded Frenchman Gael Monfils notched a 7-6 (7-4), 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 6-4 victory over Serbian Janko Tipsarevic, who was hampered by a hamstring injury.

Also, Richard Gasquet handled South African Kevin Anderson 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), 7-5 and will now face Monfils in an all-French Sweet 16 match.