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Federer cruises into second round

Former No. 1-ranked player aiming for his fifth straight U.S. Open title

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Roger Federer returns a shot to Maximo Gonzalez of Argentina during their match at the U.S. Open on Tuesday.
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updated 10:45 p.m. ET Aug. 26, 2008

NEW YORK - Roger Federer, aiming for his fifth straight U.S. Open title, eliminated Maximo Gonzalez 6-3, 6-0, 6-3 in the last stadium U.S. Open match of the night on Tuesday.

Gonzalez hung with the former world No. 1 player for a while before Federer won 10 straight games, a run spanning all three sets.

Federer eased into the second round as an unfamiliar second seed. After 237 straight weeks at the top of the rankings, Federer is now behind Rafael Nadal for the first time in 4½ years. Not since the 2004 Australian Open had Federer been seeded anything other than No. 1 at a major.

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“I’m motivated to do very well here and for the rest of the season,” Federer said.

No. 13 Fernando Verdasco of Spain, No. 14 Ivo Karlovic of Croatia and No. 15 Tommy Robredo of Spain won. Tommy Haas of Germany beat No. 12 Richard Gasquet of France 6-7 (3), 6-4, 5-7, 7-5, 6-2 and Sam Querrey beat No. 22 Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-1, 6-2.

Marat Safin, the 2000 U.S. Open champ, was as volatile as ever, throwing a tantrum after being called for a foot fault during his 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 win over Vince Spadea.

“I don’t want fight. I don’t want to shout,” the Russian said later. “I wish I could play normal matches and enjoy tennis sometimes.”

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