Roger Federer brushed aside his own self-doubt to thrash Argentina's Leonardo Mayer and stroll into the second round of the US Open.
Federer is gunning for his sixth title at Flushing Meadows and the Swiss barely broke sweat as he took just one hour and 17 minutes to beat Mayer 6-1 6-1 6-2.
It proved a comfortable win on Arthur Ashe but Federer admits he had been overcome with worry after the draw matched him with the world number 34.
Their only previous meeting in Shanghai last year saw the 17-time major champion been pushed all the way by Mayer, when he needed a final set tie-break to seal victory.
"I feel good now. I actually wasn't so confident yesterday and today," said Federer, who will now play either Marcos Baghdatis or Steve Darcis in the second round.
"I just felt like maybe it could be one of those matches where I just couldn't see it coming.
"So thankfully I took this match extremely seriously. I thought at times almost I was taking it a bit too serious.
"I got that lucky in Shanghai, so that's why that it was just creeping around in my mind that maybe today was going to be a bad day.
"Plus I had practiced with him here on the day of the draw, and he was playing very well in practice, too."
Federer is joined in round two by sixth seed Tomas Berdych, who beat American Bjorn Fratangelo in straight sets, while 12th seed Richard Gasquet also made it through after Thanasi Kokkinakis withdrew.
Serving under-arm and barely able to walk, the talented Australian finally pulled out with Gasquet leading 4-6 6-1 4-6 6-3 2-0.
Gilles Simon's match with Donald Young also went to a decider but there was no reprieve for the number 11 seed, as Young came from two sets and 3-0 down to win 2-6 4-6 6-4 6-4 6-4.
It is the first time since Wimbledon 2013 that Simon, seeded 11th, has fallen at the first hurdle of a major tournament and Young will now face Britain's Aljaz Bedene in round two.
"Down two sets to love and 3-0 actually, that's when I decided to swing a little freer," Young said.
"I started to push the envelope a little bit and started to come in more, just assert myself to the match.
"I was going to go down swinging. That was pretty much my mentality at that point."
Source: PA
