Federer set for second-round match at U.S. Open

Aug 29, 2008 - 1:28 PM FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- Trying to salvage one Grand Slam this year, Roger Federer is hoping to continue his dominance at the U.S. Open.

The second-seeded Federer seeks his 30th consecutive win at the legendary hardcourt event, facing Thiago Alves of Brazil in the second round of the year's final Grand Slam.

The four-time defending U.S. Open champion, Federer has not lost at this event since falling in four sets to David Nalbandian in 2003.

A 12-time Grand Slam winner, Federer has dominated this event in the past. In 2007, the 27-year-old lost just two sets during the tournament and won his final 12 - including a 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 victory over Novak Djokovic in the final.

The Swiss superstar has not looked like his dominating self in 2008, falling to rival Rafael Nadal in the finals at both the French Open and Wimbledon, and eventually losing his record 237-week stranglehold at the top of the ATP rankings.

The 27-year-old Federer appeared in top form Tuesday, coasting to a 6-3, 6-0, 6-3 victory over Argentina's Maximo Gonzalez in the opening round.

The reigning Australian Open champion, Djokovic squares off against American Robert Kendrick on Friday.

The third-seeded Djokovic received a scare in his first-round match Wednesday when he injured his ankle in the third set. The 21-year-old Serb overcame the setback and posted a 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Frenchman Arnaud Clement.

Djokovic coasted through his first two sets, mixing his powerful serve with a barrage of precise groundstrokes. But an eerie silence fell upon Arthur Ashe Stadium in the fourth game of the third set when he hyperextended his left ankle while planting himself for a forehand shot.

Considered a favorite to possibly end Federer's run here, Djokovic doubled over on his hands

and knees before making his way to the sideline, where a trainer administered tape and a pain-numbing spray to his ankle.

After the match, Djokovic downplayed the injury.

"Well, it's OK. It's going to be good in two days, I'm sure," he said. "After that happened, I was thinking more of it than I was really actually feeling the pain, so it's not really a big deal. But in that certain moment, I felt big pain, so I just had to tape the ankle. But it's going to be all right."

The last player besides Roger Federer to take the U.S. Open crown, Andy Roddick will also take the court Friday. The eighth-seeded American meets Ernests Gulbis of Latvia.

Much like Federer, Roddick is not having the type of season he expected in 2008. After a great start - which included his engagement to model Brooklyn Decker, Roddick lost in third round at the Australian Open, sat out the French Open and suffered a second-round exit at Wimbledon.

Roddick's quest for a second U.S. Open title started nicely when he cruised to a 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 triumph over Frenchman Fabrice Santoro on Wednesday.

Roddick, who turns 26 on Saturday, used his blistering serve to record 15 aces and lost just four points on his first serve.

While Federer, Djokovic and Roddick will all be playing at Arthur Ashe Stadium, other seeded players will play on other various courts Friday.