Four-times defending champion Roger Federer clawed his way into the third round of the US Open with a 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 victory over stubborn Brazilian qualifier Thiago Alves on Friday.
World number two Federer produced an uncharacteristic 46 unforced errors in the two-hour, 14-minute affair but denied he had a difficult time.
Federer had 19 aces and lost his serve only once but clearly needs to improve his form if he is to become the first man since Bill Tilden in 1924 to win five successive titles.
"I was struggling to see the ball at the net a little bit with the crowd in the back," said Federer, who played Alves in the cavernous Arthur Ashe Stadium court.
The 137th-ranked Alves was playing his first tour-level event of the year and only the 10th of his career. He said Federer, overtaken recently by Rafael Nadal as the world's top-ranked player after 237 weeks atop the throne, was as good as advertised.
The Swiss will face either Czech Radek Stepanek or Australian Chris Guccione in the third round and remained on track to face third seed Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals of the year's final grand slam tournament.
Federer's play at the net against Alves was spotty and his groundstrokes erratic but the 12-times grand slam champion chuckled when asked if his game was slipping.
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