ROGER Federer improved to 18-0 in first-round matches at the U.S. Open and took one step toward a potential quarterfinal showdown against Novak Djokovic.

Dressed from head to toe in a plum-coloured outfit, the 20-time major champion delivered 14 aces and never was in any trouble during a 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 victory over 117th-ranked Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday night.

Federer saved the first eight break points he faced before finally faltering by pushing a forehand long on the ninth, losing serve for the only time while trying to close out the match at 5-2 in the third set.

By then, the match was 1 hour, 45 minutes old — and it would last another seven minutes. The No. 2-seeded Federer is seeking his sixth title at the U.S. Open, but first in a decade.

He would face 13-time major champion Djokovic if each wins three more matches.

“I’m very happy to be back in New York healthy,” said Federer, who claimed five straight US Open titles from 2004-2008 but missed the 2016 edition and only made it to the quarter-finals last year.

He next faces France’s Benoit Paire, a 7-6 (8/6), 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7/5) winner over Austrian qualifier Dennis Novak.

Djokovic eventually defeated Marton Fucsovics 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-0 with heat having a significant impact on the match.

Djokovic missed the U.S. Open last year because of an elbow injury and was playing his first match in Flushing Meadows since losing the 2016 final to Stan Wawrinka.

It was a tough one, until he dominated after players were allowed to leave the court for 10 minutes following the third and fourth sets. Once they returned, the No. 6 seed finished off a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-0 victory in 2 hours, 59 minutes.

KEY RESULTS
Men Rd 1 2-Roger Federer (SUI) bt Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN) 6-2 6-2 6-4

Alex De Minaur (AUS) bt Taro Daniel (JPN) 6-0 6-1 6-2.

Matthew Ebden (AUS) bt 32-Filip Krajinovic (SRB) 7-6(1) 6-7(5) 4-6 6-1 4-1 ret. Philipp

Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) bt Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) 6-4 6-4 2-6 3-1 ret.

Gael Monfils (FRA) bt Q-Facundo Bagnis (ARG) 7-6(4) 3-6 6-0 6-0.

4-Alexander Zverev (GER) bt LL-Peter Polansky (CAN) 6-2 6-1 6-2.

6-Novak Djokovic (SRB) bt Marton Fucsovics (HUN) 6-3 3-6 6-4 6-0.

7-Marin Cilic (CRO) bt Marius Copil (ROU) 7-5 6-1 1-1 ret.

23-Chung Hyeon (KOR) bt Ricardas Berankis (LTU) 4-6 7-6(6) 6-0 2-0 ret.