Intro:

There were wins for number two seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia, Spain's David Ferrer, seeded four, and 18th seed Stanislas Wawrinka in the third round at the US Open in New York on Sunday (September 2nd).

Home hero Andy Roddick also staved off his self-imposed retirement deadline, the number 20 seed beating Italy's Fabio Fognini 7-5, 7-6(1), 4-6, 6-4.

Script:

The 2012 US Open continued at Flushing Meadows on Sunday, with the number two seed and defending champion Novak Djokovic first out on to the Arthur Ashe court to face Julien Benneteau of France.

Djokovic had been in ominous form so far in the tournament and after just an hour and 37 minutes duly booked his place in the fourth round with a straight forward 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 victory, reaching the last 16 at the final Grand Slam of the season for a sixth consecutive year.

Sunday's first match at the Louis Armstrong Stadium pitched number four seed David Ferrer of Spain against Australia's former world number one Lleyton Hewitt.

At one set all the match was finely balanced, but from there Ferrer allowed his opponent just three more games and the French open semi-finalist closed out a 7-6(9), 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 win in three hours and 12 minutes.

Also through is home favourite Andy Roddick.

Roddick announced he plans to retire after the US Open, and he extended his playing career a little further with a four set win over Italy's Fabio Fognini, much to the delight of the fans inside Arthur Ashe.

And Stanislas Wawrinka booked his spot in the last 16 after a straight sets win over Alexandr Dolgopolov.

Next up - Novak Djokovic.