Federer storms to opening victory

Defending champion Federer says he has to be more aggressive on court

Roger Federer began his quest for his fifth consecutive US Open title by beating Argentina's Maximo Gonzalez in just 82 minutes, winning 6-3 6-0 6-3.

The defending champion fired 15 aces and hammered 39 winners against his opponent, ranked 118th in the world, to book a date with Brazil's Thiago Alves.

Tommy Haas defeated 12th seed Richard Gasquet 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 5-7 7-5 6-2 win in a first-round match on Tuesday.

Haas, who is in Federer's quarter of the draw, now faces Gilles Muller.

Federer was happy with his display as he looks to win his first Grand Slam of the year after failing to defend his Australian Open and Wimbledon crowns.

"This take a little bit of pressure off me because I know a little more about where my game is at," said the Swiss star, who recently lost his number one ranking to Rafal Nadal. "I have to play more aggressively on hardcourt."

Federer, who has had a disappointing year so far despite winning Olympic doubles gold with compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka, admits he knows little about his next opponent.

"I only know what he looks like," said the 27-year-old. "I watched him play a few points on TV today. I expect him to be a similar opponent who plays from the baseline."

Former champion Marat Safin reached the second round with a 3-6 6-2 6-3 4-6 6-4 win over American Vince Spadea.

The Russian had to recover his poise after he was foot-faulted on a second serve at deuce while serving to stay in the fourth set.

Safin received a warning for swearing as he angrily argued with the umpire Carlos Ramos and briefly sat in his chair, refusing to play on.

The double fault gave Spadea a set point, which he converted to take the match into a decider.

606: DEBATE Can Safin go deep into the US Open draw?

But despite his anger, Safin broke in the first game of the fifth set and served superbly to seal a place in round two.

Safin was still seething when he answered questions in his post-match press conference.

"It's stupid rules that somebody made in 1850 and now they give me the problems with these things and it shouldn't be that way," he said.

"How can a guy see... a foot fault... with sunglasses from 35 metres away. It doesn't make any sense."

The unseeded 28-year-old now faces 15th seed Tommy Robredo, who beat German Mischa Zverev 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 6-1.

Tomas Berdych, the 22nd seed, suffered a heavy 6-3 6-1 6-2 defeat by American Sam Querrey.

But Croatian Ivo Karlovic avoided a third straight first-round loss in a Grand Slam tournament when he beat Jan Minar 7-5 6-1 6-4.

In the men's doubles, unseeded British pair Andy Murray and Ross Hutchins advanced to the second round by defeating Thai twin brothers Sanchai and Sonchat Ratiwatana 6-3 1-6 6-4.

Hutchins, 23, last played doubles with Murray in Barcelona on clay at the end of April when they won just one match before losing to Kevin Ullyett and Jeff Coetzee in the round of 16.