World No.2 Roger Federer cruised past Germany's Andreas Beck to book his ticket to the third round at the US Open.
The five-time champion at Flushing Meadows won 6-3 6-4 6-3 to set up a third-round clash against either of two Frenchmen, Paul-Henri Mathieu or Guillaume Rufin.
The Swiss master hit 15 aces past his 104th-ranked opponent to win his 42nd match out of 43 at New York; his only loss coming in last year's final against Juan Martin del Potro.
The only remaining champion still alive in the men's singles draw, Federer is aiming to be the first player to win the tournament six times in the Open era.
Results that will help Federer in his quest for yet another grand slam title include sixth seed Nikolay Davydenko's loss to Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-3 6-4 6-2.
After cruising through his fist round match, the Russian was dominated by the Frenchman and still looked to be off the pace having only just returned from an 11 week layoff with a broken wrist.
Marin Cilic was another of the big names to go down, the 11th seed upset by Japanese qualifier Kei Nishikori in five sets.
The world No.147 came back from two-sets-to-one down to beat the Croatian 5-7 7-6 (8-6) 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-1.
Both Davydenko and Cilic were in Federer's half of the draw, meaning the No.2 seed's path to the final will be easier given the pair are now out of contention.
There was no such problems for third seed Novak Djokovic, who defeated German
Philipp Petzschner 7-5 6-3 7-6 (8-6) to progress to the third round for the sixth straight time at Flushing Meadows.
The match was only eight games old when it was delayed by a scuffle between three fans who were duly escorted out of the Stadium, much to the amusement of the players watching and the crowd.
Not distracted by the off-court tussle, the Serb held off Petzschner and got the break when it counted in the first set before dominating the second.
He needed a tie break to close the match out, but did so 8-6 to set up a third round clash with American James Blake.
Blake overcame a first-set slip-up to beat Peter Polansky 6-7 (1-7) 6-3 6-2 6-4.
Swede Robin Soderling accounted for American Taylor Dent, the fifth seed triumphing in three sets.
South Africa's Kevin Anderson upset 26th seed Thomaz Bellucci in a thrilling encounter, winning 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 5-7 6-4 7-6 (7-2) in a match lasting three hours, 51 minutes.
Paul-Henri Mathieu defeated fellow Frenchman Guillaume Rufin 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 6-3, while Thiemo de Bakker won through to the third round after his opponent Ivan Dodig retired midway through the fourth set, with the score at 6-7 (4-7) 6-2 6-3 3-2.
Jurgen Melzer, the 13th seed, battled past Ricardas Berankis in a tight finish, edging out the Lithuanian 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 1-6 7-5.
French veteran Arnaud Clement played less than two sets as he progressed past Eduardo Schwank 6-3 5-5, who retired.
Spanish 22nd seed and former world No.1 Juan Carlos Ferrero defeated Ricardo Mello and 19th seed Mardy Fish beat Pablo Cuevas.