World number seven Roger Federer advanced into the second round of the US Open with a straight-sets win over Grega Zemlja.
Federer was immaculate on serve and was broken only once - late in the third as he served for the match.
However, aside from that blip, Federer was in command throughout and eased through with a 6-3 6-2 7-5 win.
Read how the action unfolded with our live text commentary below.
Hello all and thanks for joining me tonight as Roger Federer opens his 2013 US Open account against Grega Zemlja of Slovenia.
This is the third match on Arthur Ashe court tonight, with two more still to come. It's all very busy on day two. Today's crowd has already seen Petra Kvitova beat Misaki Doi in three sets and Caroline Woznacki get through a tough encounter with Duan Ying-Ying just now. It's time for the first of today's two main events.
Many people - including John McEnroe - are convinced that the once unbeatable Federer will never win another Grand Slam. He has dropped to seventh in the world and Wimbledon was the only time in the past nine years he failed to reach a Slam quarter-final.
However, he clearly has the desire to return to the top. Can he do it? It's hard to say, but it has to be said that it looks unlikely. He can make a statement with an emphatic win tonight, and if he is still here in week two then that's the first part of the battle won.
In his way stands 62nd-ranked Grega Zemlja. They have previously met twice, with Roger winning both. In February this year in Rotterdam, the Swiss won 6-3 6-1. He does appear to be on an upward curve, too, with his third round at Wimbledon his best Slam performance to date.
This game was due to be played last night, but rain hit just before they were due to start so they have had to wait until now. The warmups are almost over now, and we'll be underway very shortly.
Federer's start? A double fault. It can only get better from here...
Indeed it can, as he finally gets a serve in before stepping in to a forehand winner, which he follows up with an ace down the middle.
Aside from that early setback, that's comfortable for Fed, who comes through without dropping another point.
A double fault from Zemlja puts him in a little bit of trouble at 0-30.
He's done well to battle back to deuce, with Federer pressured into a long forehand that came off the frame.
And with those couple of break points saved, Zemlja holds. A nervy start, but he took the game which is the important thing.
Rapid hold from Federer, who has his service game fully in action now. Just seven minutes in and we've already got through three games - and one of them had break points.
He's incredibly reluctant to move from the back of the court, Zemlja, which backfires as he eventually goes long for 15-15.
Good hold from the Slovenian, who has a powerful serve that Fed is struggling to return if he gets it in. The final effort was 126mph, which brings him the game. Good start from him.
Federer responds with a very good ace down the T, for his second of the match.
Hold to love for Federer brings Zemlja right back on serve. If he cannot win points against serve the pressure will begin to build. For now, though, he's been solid with the balls.
So far so good. A couple of big serves are returned out of court and the Slovenian is 30-0 up.
At 30-15, however, a second double fault brings us level. Danger here if Fed can get the next point.
He doesn't, and Zemlja wraps up another service game. Nothing giving in so far for either player.
Federer really doesn't want to hang about on serve. Zemlja finally wins a point on the Fed serve, but the Swiss responds with an ace into the corner - his fifth. Whoosh. The Federer forehand in full swing there as he takes the game with his eighth winner. He's unplayable when shots like that are working.
Serve and volley for Zemlja there as he takes the opening point of his next service game.
He's in trouble now, though, with a failed smash that goes into the crowd before the court. Two break points Fed...
BREAK: He's not slipping up there. Fine forehand kisses the line to break at the ideal moment. He now serves for the first set.
Again the ball comes off Zemlja's frame, as Federer moves 30-0 up.
SET! Brilliant net play Federer. His swift reactions are on the money, with Zemlja going long and the set is finished off with an ace.
Zemlja has to hold here really to keep things in his hands. However, another fault brings the score to 15-30.
We're at deuce here for only the second time in the match. Break point Federer as his opponent nets...
BREAK! Brilliant from Fed, who comes to the net aggressively and forces the error. He now has two breaks from five opportunities and four straight games.
Yet again Zemlja loses a point after slicing off the side of his racquet. He needs a bigger one as Federer moves 40-15 ahead and is in control now.
Easy as you like, Federer consolidates his break and moves 2-0 ahead. Zemlja must stop the rot of games.
An early double fault won't help, but he again comes to the net well to slam a winner off the backhand for 30-15.
Fantastic volley from Federer, who snuck on his opponent's blindside to win the point. However, a big serve is not returned and Zemlja has his first game in six.
Really well timed serve and volley from Federer, who caught the Slovenian off guard. He wraps up another service game to love with an ace. There has been no threat to his serve today at all.
Lovely. A drop shot from behind the baseline and Zemlja cannot reach it to make it 15-15.
His last two service games have been good, as he wraps that one up to 30. But Zemlja needs to make a dent in Federer's, which has been flawless so far.
Not this time. If Zemlja manages a return, he's always second favourite in the point. Fed moves untroubled to 4-2.
BREAK! Another break at a key time for Fed, as if he dictated it to be like this. In just 46 minutes he is serving for a second set.
It's all going to script so far, as Zemlja hits three returns wide.
SET! He's two sets up in 48 minutes after yet another hold to love. This is only going one way and Federer's serve really has been impressive. Absolutely solid.
Good start to his next service game from Zemlja, who races 40-0 up, the last point a big ace down the middle.
Federer battles back to 40-30, but a nice one-two with a forehand winner from the Slovenian gets him off the mark in the set.
Brilliant from the Swiss. He comes to the net and gets the ball from under it back over and down the other side in one fluid motion. He made it look easy.
Magic from Fed. Again Federer reacts so quickly at the net. Zemlja hammered it to Federer from the back of the court, but he had soft enough hands to win the point on the backhand.
A huge slice of luck there from Zemlja, who clips the net and sees the ball go just the other side. He worked for it, but holds again to stay ahead in the set.
This is much better from the Slovenian, who is really getting into the rallies. He goes 15-30 up when Fed nets, and here's a sniff.
But that's what Federer is all about. He regroups and claims the game with a couple of good first serves.
Zemlja could easily have rolled over after losing that second set, but no. He's battled back and is now fully on top of his own service games as well as winning points on Fed's. You expect the Swiss to step up shortly, though, should he hold here.
Big forehand from Federer to move up 40-15. Zemlja just didn't move.
They're going punch-for-punch at the moment. Federer holds without too much fuss. Here's where he usually turns it on...
Indeed he goes up 0-30 here. Big moment for the Slovenian...
Great time for a big ace there and one point is clawed back. Federer leaves a second serve, but it clipped the line and we're at 30-30.
Break point for Federer... Another magnificent volley stopping the ball dead at the other side.
Brilliant save! Zemlja executes the perfect drop shot into the corner to save break point.
BREAK! How has Roger won that final point? He's on the defensive with a series of slices, before forcing Zemlja to net with a brilliant backhand into his body. Great play and as I thought the perfect time to break. Not long left in this one now.
It's the first time here that Federer's serve has been taken to deuce. And now it's advantage Zemlja after a double...
The Slovenian nets and we're back to deuce.
BREAK BACK! Well, that wasn't in the script. Federer changes his racquet in the break needing another break with us being back on serve.
A second wind for Zemlja. He's raced 40-0 up on serve.
A double fault is a hiccup, but he responds with a big serve and is now in command in the closing stages of the third set. Can Roger respond with a big service game?
Yes, he can. To love. "Your move, Grega," he might have said there.
It's 15-30 here as Fed senses a chance, but Zemlja gets a fine serve down the middle that is returned wide.
Break point Federer now, and on second serve...
BREAK! He gets it, and he surely won't pass up the second chance to serve this one out. We're just shy of an hour and a half and this has been a good test for the world number seven.
Magnificent stuff from Fed. He comes to the net to plant a volley way out of reach and has three match points...
GAME, SET & MATCH FEDERER
Federer is through to the second round with what was a pretty comfortable win. He did not need to be at his best, but at times he was and at those times had far, far too much for Zemlja.
Thanks for joining me for this tonight, and be sure to stick around for all our US Open coverage over the next two weeks. Goodbye.
Written by
Matt Domm
Matt Domm
