Federer facing Youzhny test

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The world number one routed unseeded Italian Potito Starace 6-2 6-3 6-0 on the Philippe Chatrier court.

He will now meet Youzhny, the 13th seed, who beat former champion Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-7 (3-7) 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 6-2 in the third round.

Federer has not lost in nine meetings against the Russian, which includes a 6-3 6-3 7-6 (7-5) success on his way to the Australian Open crown earlier this year. But the Swiss is not going to take Youzhny, a semi-finalist at the 2006 US Open and a winner in Rotterdam this year, lightly.

"I think he is a fantastic player," he said. "He's always been very famous for playing exceptionally well in practice but not really tying it together in a match situation. Now he's been able to do that, and he's been doing it on a regular basis. That puts him in contention.

"And he usually plays better against the better players. I have a lot of respect for his game. He had a breakthrough late last year at the US Open when he beat Rafa (Rafael Nadal) and played the semis."

Federer, in search of the only grand slam to elude him, beat Starace - the world number 57 - in an hour and 31 minutes. He was 4-1 ahead in the first set before breaking to clinch it in 29 minutes.

Federer broke in the eighth game of the second set to go further clear, and then claimed six games on the spin in the final set, which lasted a mere 21 minutes. He is yet to lose a set at Roland Garros this year, having beaten Michael Russell and Thierry Ascione already in a rain-affected tournament.

"I'm happy that things are going well," he added. "I haven't lost a set and I'm feeling well. It's difficult for everybody here at the moment with the changing conditions and the gusty winds. I felt good from the start today. I felt it was going to be hard for him to really get service winners out of that serve he had.

"And I had the feeling from the baseline that I was going to be the better man. That is a huge advantage to have when you are on clay. I think I am moving well for early in a grand slam."