3 Sep 2009

Federer withstands German challenge to advance to third round

6:04 pm on 3 September 2009

Top seed and five-times champion Roger Federer has withstood an inspired challenge from German Simon Greul before advancing to third round of the U.S. Tennis Open, where he'll meet former winner Leyton Hewitt.

Greul squandered two set points in the second set and a 4-1 lead, before Federer eventually won 6-3 7-5 7-5.

Federer now meets 2001 champion Hewitt, who Federer's beaten on their last 13 straight encounters.

Third seed Rafael Nadal had a straight sets win over Frenchman Richard Gasquet who returned to major competition following a two and a half month suspension after testing positive for cocaine.

Gasquet was banned for two months and 15 days when an independent tribunal set up under the tennis anti-doping programme found him guilty but ruled he had been inadvertently contaminated by kissing a woman in a Miami nightclub.

In the women's draw second seed Serena Williams showed why she's favourite with a quick 6-1 6-1 win over the Hungarian left-hander Melinda Czink and the third seed Venus had a straight sets win over another American Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

Kim Cjlisters, continued her grand slam comeback with a three set victory over the French 14th seed Marion Bartoli.