Federer cruises through (From Ealing Times)

Federer cruises through

9:23pm Sunday 31st August 2008 in

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Defending champion Roger Federer wasted little time in progressing to the fourth round of the US Open on Sunday.

The Swiss world number two cruised past the Czech Republic's Radek Stepanek 6-3 6-3 6-2 to clinch his 30th consecutive victory at Flushing Meadows.

Playing in his first major without the world's top ranking since the 2004 Australian Open, Federer has looked fully focused on adding to his haul of 12 grand slam titles.

The 27-year-old's win on Sunday improved his career record against Stepanek to 5-2, avenging a loss in the previous meeting in the quarter-finals in Rome in May.

That was one of 12 defeats this season for Federer, who has failed to claim either a grand slam or ATP Masters title en route to losing his top ranking to main rival Rafael Nadal.