Another French Open stroll for Federer

PARIS: Top seed Roger Federer enjoyed another comfortable afternoon stroll at the French Open on Friday as he moved closer to the Grand Slam with a 6-2, 6-3, 6-0 win over Italy's Potito Starace.

The 91-minute mismatch gave Federer a fourth round date with Russian 13th seed Mikhail Youzhny as the world number one continues his quest to win a first Roland Garros crown.

Federer never had to move into top gear to see off the 25-year-old Starace in front of a subdued Court Philippe Chatrier which is becoming used to seeing the Swiss master cruise through his early French Open exchanges.

But he would have still been pleased with the confident way he dealt with the Italian who had hit form in the European clay court season where he had been runner-up to Nicolas Almagro in Valencia and made the last eight in Barcelona where he fell in straight sets to Rafael Nadal.

The world number one hit 14 winners to Starace's four in a 29-minute first set on Friday, allowing just four points on his own service.

Starace had two break points in the third game of the second set which he was unable to convert and Federer made him pay by going on to break in the eighth game on his way to a two sets lead.

The third set was a stroll.

Federer sprinted to a 5-0 lead and wrapped up the match with a confident backhand with the set taking just 21 minutes to complete.

If statistics are any guide, Federer's fourth round should be equally comfortable - he has a 9-0 career record over Youzhny.