(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)New York - Roger Federer and Andy Murray coasted into the US Open fourth round on Saturday.
Five-time champion and world number two Federer claimed a 6-3 6-4 6-4 victory over Philipp Kohlschreiber his 10th win in 10 meetings against the 29th-ranked German. Murray seeded three and the New York champion in 2012 brushed aside Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil 6-3 6-2 7-5 for his 40th career win at the US Open. Federer 34 hoping to become the oldest champion since Ken Rosewall in 1970 will next face US 13th seed John Isner who progressed after Czech opponent Jiri Vesely retired with a neck injury after dropping the first two sets. Federer has now reached the fourth round in New York for the 15th year as he looks to return to the final for the first time since 2009. "I won the big points today I served well when I had to even though it was up and down for both of us" said Federer who will take a 4-1 career lead over Isner into their fourth-round clash. Murray had needed to rally from two sets down to see off France's Adrian Mannarino in the second round. But despite falling a break down in the first set on Saturday he eventually breezed to victory over the 30th-ranked left-handed Bellucci. Murray who has advanced to the quarter-finals or better at his last 18 Grand Slams next faces South Africa's 15th seed Kevin Anderson. Anderson has never gone beyond the fourth round at a major and trails Murray 4-1 in career meetings including two clashes this year. The big South African boosted by a title on the hard courts of Winston Salem last weekend made the last 16 with a 6-3 7-6 (7/3) 7-6 (7/3) win over Austria's Dominic Thiem. "It was much slower conditions today which made it tough to serve but easier to return so there were a lot of long rallies" said Murray. "He got the early break but I got it back straightaway used my variety and made it tough for him." Two-time runner-up Victoria Azarenka the 20th seed triumphed over 11th-seeded German Angelique Kerber in an Arthur Ashe Stadium thriller lasting almost three hours. Azarenka whose season has been blighted by a left thigh injury won 7-5 2-6 6-4 on a sixth match point having trailed 2-5 in the first set. The 26-year-old took her record over Kerber to 5-0 on the back of 51 winners to her opponent's 46 in a merciless contest of big-hitting. Both players saved a combined 26 break points before the Belarusian prevailed to set-up a last-16 clash with America's Varvara Lepchenko. "Angelique is a great fighter but I enjoy the hustle and getting winners and chasing down every ball" said two-time Australian Open champion Azarenka. Fifth seed Stan Wawrinka the French Open champion made the last 16 with a 6-3 7-6 (7/5) 6-4 win over Belgian world number 107 Rubens Bemmelmans.
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