US Open: Federer beats Paire to enter third round

Twenty-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer on Thursday scored a 7-5, 6-4, 6-4 win over Frenchman Benoit Paire to enter the third round of the ongoing US Open at the Arthur Ashe Stadium here.

While Paire had not beaten the Swiss tennis ace in their six previous meetings, he never looked like causing an upset in their seventh encounter too as Federer had an upper hand on him throughout the game.

World No 2 Federer, 37, used his experience and guile to secure the win, benefitting from 47 unforced errors by Paire, while striking 27 winners of his own.

An evident favourite, Federer had earlier defeated Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 in their opening-round clash to storm into the next round.

He will next take on Australia's Nick Kyrgios in the third round on Saturday.

--ANI