Federer, Serena storm into US Open third round

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Top seed and five-time champion Roger Federer reached the US Open third round on Thursday with an easy 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 win over Germany's Bjorn Phau.

World number one Federer will tackle Spain's Fernando Verdasco, whom he has beaten four times in four matches, for a place in the last 16.

Federer, bidding to become the first man to win six New York titles in the Open era, clinched the 90-minute match with his 15th ace after also firing 44 winners past the 32-year-old Phau, the world number 83.

Thursday's meeting was the third between Federer and Phau, 13 years after their first clash in Washington in 1999, which was won by the German.

Venus advances

Serena Williams advanced to the third round with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Spain's Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez.

Williams will next face Russia's Ekaterina Makarova for a berth in the last 16 at the year's final Grand Slam tournament.