19-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer once again survived a five-set battle, this time against Russian player Mikhail Youzhny, to roll into the third round of the US Open here at the Flushing Meadows on Friday.
Federer, who is a five-time US Open champion and currently seeded third in the ongoing tournament, was two sets to one down, but eventually came through to register a 6-1, 6-7 (3-7), 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 win over his Russian opponent in a thrilling second-round clash at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
It should be noted that Federer had never lost to Youzhny in their 16-match ATP Head-to-Head series.
However, Federer insisted that his clash against Youzhny was far better than the first round.
"I'm better than the first round, so I'm happy. This match wasn't about the back, which is good. This is more just a grind. I felt different, completely different, the way it played and everything. But I'm really, really happy I got through," the ATP website quoted Federer, as saying.
Earlier, Federer rebounded strongly after a shaky start to eventually edge past American Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 in a topsy-turvy first-round clash of the men's singles event that lasted two hours and 40 minutes.
It was for the first time that Federer has taken five sets in the first round at Flushing Meadows since making debut against Peter Wessels in 2000.
The Swiss maestro had never played consecutive five-setters in his career entering 2017. Prior to this US Open, he did it twice this year, having earlier done so in the Australian Open semi-finals and final against Stan Wawrinka and Rafael Nadal respectively.
Federer will now cross swords with Spain's Feliciano Lopez for a place in last-16.
In another men' singles clash, sixth-seed Dominic Thiem of Austria also made it to the third round after posting a 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 win over America's Taylor Fritz.
He will now take on France's Adrian Mannarino in round-of-32.
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