U.S. Open: Roger Federer cruises into 4th round

Five-time U.S. Open winner Roger Federer took another straight-sets step at the 2015 championships with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 third-round victory over Philipp Kohlschreiber at Flushing Meadows on Saturday.

Federer lost his serve for the first time in the tournament as Kohlschreiber broke him twice in the 93-minute match, but the 34-year-old Swiss stayed in command with five service breaks of his own to improve his career record to 10-0 against the German.

"I think I won the big points today," said 17-times grand slam singles winner Federer. "I served well when I had to at the end."

Roger Federer might not be so keen to try out his old-dog-new-trick, rush-the-net "SABR" — "sneak attack by Roger" — return strategy against his next opponent at the U.S. Open.

"I don't think so," Federer said. "I can always try. But it's probably not the right guy to do it against."

Probably not.

That's because the second-seeded Federer, who advanced Saturday by beating 29th-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany 6-3, 6-4, 6-4, will have to deal with 6-foot-10 American John Isner and his massive serve in the fourth round.

"The idea is not to use it very much against a player like that," Federer said about his innovative and risky approach to attacking second serves, racing forward as the ball arrives to pluck it off the ground with what amounts to a half-volley.

"I have done pretty well over the years against big servers, so, I mean, clearly I will think about it. But I don't think that's going to be the turning point of the match, to be quite honest. I need to make sure I protect my own serve first."

Federer's reached the fourth round for the 15th year in a row.

Easier match for Murray

Andy Murray finally enjoyed a straight-forward win after two earlier battles to advance to the fourth round of the U.S. Open with a 6-3 6-2 7-5 victory over Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci on Saturday.

World number three Murray, who won his first major at the 2012 U.S. Open a year before winning Wimbledon, had battled back from two sets down to beat France's Adrian Mannarino in the second round after needing four sets to beat Australian Nick Kyrgios in his opening match.

A routine win on a cool, comfortable night after a week of stifling heat gave Murray the last berth in the fourth round and should prime the Scotsman for the pressures of the later stages at the year's last grand slam.

"It was very important for me today. The last match was extremely tough, physically and mentally," Murray said in an on-court interview.

"It was a lot cooler today which helps, if you get to win in three sets in much cooler conditions and get a day to recover now for the next one."

He next faces 15th-seeded Kevin Anderson.

Young beats Troicki

Donald Young has done it again.

The American rallied from two sets down for the second time in three rounds to match his best run at a major. Young stunned 22nd-seeded Viktor Troicki 4-6, 0-6, 7-6 (3), 6-2, 6-4 in 3 hours, 33 minutes to reach the fourth round.

Before Tuesday, the 68th-ranked Young had been 0-17 in his career when dropping the first two sets. Now he's made that comeback twice in five days. Young was down two sets and a break against 11th-seeded Gilles Simon in the first round.

After failing to win a game in the second set Saturday, Young had treatment on his lower back and took control of the match from then on.

Young again had a boisterous crowd behind him on one of Flushing Meadow's cozier show courts. He won on Court 17 in the first two rounds, coming back from down a set to win in four Thursday. On Saturday, the fans were chanting "U-S-A! U-S-A!" for him on the bigger Grandstand.

Young also made the fourth round at the 2011 U.S. Open.