And so it begins

While on vacation from his top ranking, Roger Federer began a quest to defend the US Open title as if it were a simple routine. Playing 118th-ranked Maximo Gonzalez, Federer quickly got things done with a 6-3, 6-0, 6-3 victory lasting merely 82 minutes. Maximo is a 25-year-old Argentine and prior to this match had a hard court record of 0-0. What a blow it must have been to see that his first, ever, hard court match would be against the man who can call Arthur Ashe Stadium a second home (his first being Centre Court, of course).

Federer was initially stalled as the Argentine showed that he was deserving of the regal stage - coming up with beautiful passing shots and aiming to paint lines. However, Gonzalez could not ride his best game to fortune and handed Federer a break to 3-5 in the first set with a dreaded double fault. From then onward Federer kicked it into the gear we are all used to seeing and dominated his opponent, winning 9 straight games. The next 26 minutes flew by and the champ was up two sets to love.

Federer then went up an early break in the third, but this served as a clear wake-up call to Max. He suddenly broke back (a feat in its own right against the master) and held his service twice. He found the skill he had exhibited in the opening of the match, but sadly it was not enough to challenge Federer, who won the match when Gonzalez sent a forehand long. After displaying brilliance, Federer is, without question, ready to hoist his trophy again.

Nadal also passed his first round test yesterday, but he did not experience the ease that Federer enjoyed. Even though he finished off qualifier Bjorn Phau in straight sets, Nadal ran about the court for three hours and was pushed to two tiebreaks. Phau proved that the fear of Nadal is not so pressing as that of Federer might be, which is a decidingly clear advantage to the Swiss, over Rafa, on their separate tracks to the final; and perhaps to one another.