Federer cruises into second round

World number one Roger Federer began his quest for a sixth consecutive US Open title by defeating US teen Devin Britton 6-1, 6-3, 7-5 in a first-round match yesterday.

The Swiss superstar advanced in 88 minutes to a second-round match against Germany's 65th-ranked Simon Greul, who outlasted 182nd-ranked Ecuadoran qualifier Giovanni Lapentti 6-3, 4-6, 3-6, 6-0, 7-6.

Federer won 12 of the first 13 points, holding serve twice on his way to a 3-0 lead after only five minutes.

Britton, an 18-year-old US wild card who lost his only prior top-level match last month at Indianapolis, was outclassed from the start.

The 1,370th-ranked US college champion dropped the first set in 18 minutes, battled back in the second and broke Federer in the seventh game of the final set only to have Federer break back twice, claiming the match with the second on a crosscourt forehand winner.

Federer completed a career Grand Slam by winning the French Open in June and set an all-time record with his 15th Slam title in July at Wimbledon.

Federer, a semi-finalist in each of the past 21 Grand Slam events, has won 61 career titles and nearly $50 million in prize money, taking trophies at Madrid and Cincinnati this year in addition to his two Slam crowns.

After reclaiming the top ranking from Rafael Nadal with his Wimbledon title, Federer can keep the top spot by reaching the US Open's round of 16.

An earlier exit opens the door for Nadal or Britain's Andy Murray to become number one.

Top seed Federer improved to 48-7 this year and 46-4 in career US Open matches. He has not lost a match on the Flushing Meadows hardcourts since 2003, when David Nalbandian beat him in the fourth round.

Also yesterday, Russian eighth seed Nikolay Davydenko advanced to the second round by defeating Germany's 22nd-ranked Dieter Kindlmann 6-3, 6-4, 7-5.

Davydenko, who matched his best Grand Slam showings with 2006 and 2007 runs to the US Open semi-finals, will next face 70th-ranked Czech Jan Hernych, who outlasted Germany's Rainer Schuettler 1-6, 7-6, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.

Clijsters through

Former champion Kim Clijsters reached the second round at the US Open yesterday with a 58-minute, 6-1, 6-1 win over Viktoriya Kutuzova, of Ukraine.

It was the Belgian player's first match at Flushing Meadows since she defeated Mary Pierce in straight sets in the 2005 final.

She was unable to defend her title the following year and then retired from the game in May, 2007 to marry and have a baby, only returning to action earlier this month.

"It was nice to come out here on centre court and open the tournament, as I didn't get to do so as defending champion a few years ago," said Clijsters.

"I'm glad I won in two sets without wasting too much energy. I had a few butterflies, more than I normally do."

The win was the sixth for Clijsters against two losses since she launched her comeback and moved her forward to a potential second round clash against French 14th seed Marion Bartoli, whom she beat in straight sets in her first match back in Cincinnati.