Federer opens title defense with easy win

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Four-times champion Roger Federer launched his U.S. Open title defense with a comfortable 6-3 6-0 6-3 win over little-known Argentine Maximo Gonzalez in the first round on Tuesday.

The Swiss master, deposed as world number one last week by Spaniard Rafael Nadal, shrugged off an untidy start with a polished performance on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court in an evening match.

Federer broke Gonzalez in the eighth game before taking the opening set in 25 minutes. He then swept through the second with three further service breaks.

The 118th-ranked Argentine, playing his first hardcourt match on the ATP Tour, raised his game in the third to break Federer and lead 3-2 before his opponent regained control to wrap up victory in 82 minutes.

"I am very happy to be back healthy, playing well and winning the first round is always great fun," Federer said in a courtside interview. "I am looking forward to more like that.

"It was a good match to start off with. I never saw my opponent before, and that was the tricky part. I thought the other guy played good for the pressure he was under."

Federer won 10 successive games from 3-3 in the first set before Gonzalez broke the Swiss for the only time in the match in the second game of the third.

"I went on a great roll," said Federer, who comes into a U.S. Open without a hardcourt title for the first time since 2001.

POSITIVE START

"I thought I really served well and I moved really well for the first round. That's positive for a start," said the second seed, who belted 15 aces.

The 27-year-old was weakened from mononucleosis early in the season but said his health issues were now behind him.

"The tests are showing a complete recovery," Federer added. "But it's been a hard year, especially the beginning, and it was difficult trying to get back into rhythm.

"I played really well on clay and grass but not so good early on in the hardcourt season. I think the Olympics doubles gold gave me a great lift and I am really inspired to do well here."

Federer was overjoyed to win his first Olympic medal with compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka in the doubles at the Beijing Games this month.

A big change for the Swiss in his U.S. Open title defense is not being top seed at a major for the first time since the 2004 Australian Open.

"But I feel the fans are really supporting me and telling me I'm still number one and still the best," he said. "I've got unbelievable support from the fans watching me and seeing people in the streets and stuff. It's kind of really nice."

Federer, who lost the top spot to Nadal eight days ago after a record 237 consecutive weeks as world number one, will next play Brazilian qualifier Thiago Alves.

(Editing by Larry Fine)