Roger Federer has won in straight sets for the first time in this year’s U.S. Open, downing Daniel Evans 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 to advance to the round of 16.
Federer, the No. 3 seed and five-time champion at Flushing Meadows, dropped the first set in his previous two rounds but that was not an issue against the 58th-ranked Evans on Friday.
Federer blasted 48 winners and served up 10 aces en route to the victory, his 18th straight third-round win at the Open.
Next up for Federer is the winner of the match later Friday between 15th-seeded David Goffin and Pablo Carreno Busta.
On the other mens’ matches, Australian Alex de Minaur claimed his biggest grand slam scalp with a 6-2 6-4 2-6 6-3 triumph over seventh-seeded former Open runner-up Kei Nishikori.
The pulsating victory vaulted de Minaur into the last 16 at a major for the first time and left him one win away from a potential quarter-final showdown with Federer.