New York (AFP)

Unconvincing in the first two rounds, Roger Federer flew over the 3rd and reached the round of 16 of the US Open for the 18th time in 19 participations, while Karolina Pliskova has had great difficulty in dismissing an injured opponent.

While waiting for Frenchwoman Fiona Ferro (74th) to face the Chinese Wang Qiang (18th) she has beaten only once in four confrontations, the world N.3 have therefore shown two very different faces.

Federer, who shares with Pete Sampras and Jimmy Connors the record of 5 wins at Flushing Meadows, took only 1:20 to send the British Daniel Evans (58) to the locker room (6-2, 6-2, 6-1).

Scheduled at midday when he had played in the afternoon and evening until then, the Swiss was much more effective than in his first two rounds in which he conceded each time the first run.

"I did the same (only in the first two games), maybe he was tired because he had played the day before," Federer said to explain his excellent introduction.

He qualified for the third round on Wednesday while taking advantage of the roof of the Arthur-Ashe court while Evans' match was postponed to Thursday because of the rain.

- "Faster" -

Friday, the sun shone on Flushing Meadows: "the game was faster than the evening and that under the roof that makes the atmosphere humid", explained Federer to whom these conditions are better.

Last year, it was in the round of 16 he was eliminated by the Australian John Millman.

On the other hand, Pliskova who can become N.1 at the end of the tournament eliminated Ins Jabeur (62), 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, while she was the Tunisian who was injured.

Finalist 2016 and looking for a first Grand Slam title, Pliskova seemed to have to make a bite of his opponent when it showed early in the game signs of strong pain from his right knee.

After a first round of one-sided loop in 26 minutes, Jabeur even brought the doctor to be put a compress before starting the second set.

- On eggs -

On eggs during the first games of the second run, the Tunisian then took confidence and, taking advantage of the torpor in which appeared to have fallen Pliskova, she won the 2nd set.

"She played a lot better from the second set and achieved incredible points," said the Czech to explain her own difficulties.

She still managed to raise her level of play to quickly take the service of the Tunisian at the beginning of the 3rd set. Then, sounded by Jabeur's winning shots, Pliskova then folded, folded, nearly lost her faceoff, but she maintained her advantage to complete the match.

"I had to serve well to get by and especially save break points," she said.

On the other hand, last year's semifinalist Kei Nishikori (7th) did not get out of the trap Alex de Minaur (38th). The 20-year-old Australian won 6-2, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 against the Japanese who reached the quarter-finals of the three other tournaments of the 2019 rand slam.

American star Serena Williams has taken over Federer on court Arthur-Ashe who will also welcome the titleholder maculin Novak Djokovic for the last match of a night session.

The world No.2 Ashleigh Barty, who, like Pliskova, can overthrow Naomi Osaka at the top of the hierarchy, has succeeded the Czech on court Louis-Armstrong where the evening will end with the return of Daniil Medvedev (5th), well started physically after his 3rd round on Thursday.

© 2019 AFP