Jelena Jankovic of Serbia slips during her match with Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, at the US Open tennis tournament in New York, yesterday. - AP

NEW YORK (AP):

Roger Federer looked every bit a champion and stayed perfect at the US Open. Andy Roddick showed shades of winning form, too, yesterday.

No longer No. 1, Federer beat Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 and breezed into the round of 16.

To win his first Grand Slam of the season, Federer needs to take his fifth straight title at Flushing Meadows. He has not lost a set in three matches and raised his right fist after zinging a final, winning forehand down the line.

"I guess it's just nice to play well. Pretty simple," the No. 2 Federer said. "No complaints."

Roddick, the last man to win the Open before Federer, beat No. 31 Andreas Seppi of Italy 6-2, 7-5, 7-6 (4).

The eighth-seeded Roddick usually relies on his power serve. Down in the tiebreaker, he smartly served from the shadows into the bright sun, launching a wide, 126 mph (203 kph) ace that blinded Seppi.

"This is probably the most intimidating court in the world if you've never been on it before," Roddick said.

Second-seeded Jelena Jankovic won her sort of split decision, beating No. 21 Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 to reach the quarter-finals.

Trademark splits

Jankovic went into her trademark splits early in the third set, reaching for a shot. She lost the point and stayed splayed on the court and fans wondered whether she'd hurt herself. But Jankovic bounced up and easily bounded around the court, quickly finishing off her 18-year-old Danish opponent.

"My mom told me that I am losing a little bit of weight," Jankovic said. "I'm actually not losing weight, I'm just getting firmer, you know?"

Fifth-seeded Nikolay Davydenko defeated fellow Russian Dmitry Tursunov 6-2, 7-6 (3), 6-3 and No. 23 Igor Andreev beat No. 13 Fernando Verdasco 6-2, 6-4, 6-4. Gilles Muller of Luxembourg, the only qualifier left on the men's side, rallied past No. 18 Nicolas Almagro 6-7 (3), 3-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (6), 7-5.

Almagro provided the day's comic relief midway through his match.

Thinking his shot had missed, Almagro grabbed a towel near the back wall to wipe his face. He then realised the ball was still in play and tried to recover, but lost the point.

Muller beat Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon in 2005 and overcame a two-set deficit against Tommy Haas in his previous match.

Stepanek is among nine players to beat Federer this season, sweeping a pair of tiebreakers at Rome in May. But at 29 years old and seeded 28th, the oldest player left in the men's draw was no match for a player who seems to be on a mission.