Flawless Federer into US Open fourth round with commanding victory over Kohlschreiber

Roger Federer is safely through to the fourth round of the US Open ©Getty Images

Five-times champion Roger Federer of Switzerland continued his impressive start at the US Open as he dispatched tricky German Philipp Kohlschreiber to book his place in the fourth round at Flushing Meadows.

The Swiss, seeded at number two for the event in New York, dropped his serve for the first time since Wimbledon but was able to secure a comfortable 6-3, 6-4 win over the German, currently ranked at 29 in the world.

While many of his rivals for the US Open crown have toiled in the early rounds, including Briton Andy Murray, who had to come from two sets down to beat Frenchman Adrian Mannarino, Federer has looked as though he is back to his classy best.

He dominated proceedings from the off, exhibiting his trademark tranquility around court on his way to sealing a trouble-free passage into round four, maintaining his bid for a first title at Flushing Meadows since 2008 in style.

Third seed Murray had no such problems this time around as he swept aside Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci with a 6-3 6-2 7-5 victory, showing no signs of fatigue despite being pushed all the way by Mannarino.

The Briton will now go on to face South African Kevin Anderson, who is seeded 14 at the tournament, for a place in the quarter-finals.

“My last match was extremely tough physically and mentally,” he said,

“It was a lot cooler today, which helps, and to get the win in three sets.

"I get a day to recover now and get ready for the next one.”

Britain's Johanna Konta is through to round four in the women's draw for the first time in her career as she beat Andrea Petkovic ©Getty Images

Elsewhere in the men’s draw, Stanislas Wawrinka breezed past Belgium’s Ruben Bemelmans 6-3, 7-6, 6-4, while Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych recovered from losing the opening set to oust Spain’s Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-3.

In the women’s competition, Romanian Simona Halep, seeded at number two, made light work of American Shelby Rogers with a 6-2, 6-3 success.

Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic is also through after she cruised to a commanding 6-2, 6-1 victory against Anna Karolína Schmiedlová of Slovakia, while Britian’s Johanna Konta extended her superb winning run by beating Germany’s Andrea Petkovic.

Konta had never been past round two at a Grand Slam event before this edition of the US Open but she proved too strong for Petkovic, edging a narrow first set before emerging with a 7-6, 6-3 win.

The 24-year-old Australian-born Briton will now entertain Kvitova, who is still seeking her maiden US Open title, in the pick of the women’s fourth round matches.