5-time champ Federer makes it 36 wins in a row at US Open, beating Greul in straights

Federer reaches Open’s 3rd round in straight sets

NEW YORK — Roger Federer’s winning streak at the U.S. Open is up to 36 matches. He’ll try for No. 37 against a familiar foe.

The top-seeded Federer moved into the third round at Flushing Meadows by beating 65th-ranked Simon Greul of Germany 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 Wednesday night before a night-session record crowd of 24,206.

“I thought, with a little bit of luck, I could win one set,” Greul said. “But it didn’t happen. He was playing too well.”

Next up for Federer: a match against 2001 U.S. Open champion Lleyton Hewitt. The 31st-seeded Hewitt beat Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 in the second round.

Federer has won 13 consecutive matches against the formerly top-ranked Hewitt, including victories over the Australian in the 2004 final and 2005 semifinals at Flushing Meadows.

“I’m intrigued about this matchup. It’s an incredible run for me against him. I cannot believe I’ve beaten him that many times in a row,” Federer said. “But we had some close ones during those 13. Everyone starts from zero, unfortunately for me now. I hope I can win again.”

Federer is trying to become the first man since Bill Tilden in the 1920s to win the American Grand Slam tournament six years in a row.

The Swiss star — owner of a record 15 Grand Slam singles titles overall — hasn’t lost at the U.S. Open since a fourth-round setback against David Nalbandian in 2003.

“But on any given day, a former world No. 1, a guy who’s won majors, is very, very dangerous,” Federer said, looking ahead to playing Hewitt. “That’s why I have to make sure I get into the match quickly, not give him the lead, because we know he’s not going to go down without a fight. He’s physically almost as tough as anyone out there.”

Hewitt was asked whether he thinks hard courts might be the best surface on which to end his losing streak against Federer.

“Obviously, this surface, he’s been hard to beat for anyone,” Hewitt said. “Yeah, it’s probably hard to probably nominate the best surface against him.”