Roger Federer hit top form as he outplayed Frenchman Fabrice Santoro 6-0 6-4 7-6 to reach the fourth round of the US Open.
The world number one, bidding to become the first man to win three grand slam titles in the same year since Mats Wilander in 1988, was tested in the third set but came through in just over two hours.
Santoro had beaten Federer twice in their previous six meetings but the Frenchman looked shell-shocked after being hammered in the opening set.
Federer's game flowed as he hit 56 winners, breaking in the 10th game of the second set to take control.
Santoro, one of the most creative players on tour, saved four match points in the third-set tiebreak but Federer eventually took it 9-7.
The top seed faces either 16th seed Andrei Pavel or South Korea's Lee Hyung-taik for a place in the quarter-finals.
In other early action on Saturday, 15th seed Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand was beaten 7-6 6-3 6-3 by Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia.