New York: Roger Federer served notice he was still a powerhouse at the US Open and punctuated his performance with another sensational shot for the ages in a first-round rout over Argentine Brian Dabul on Monday.
Federer, whose run of five successive US titles was snapped last year in a five-set final against Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro, closed the opening day's action with a 6-1 6-4 6-2 victory on Arthur Ashe centre court.
The Swiss maestro turned master showman when he reprised the between-the-legs winner he hit last year in the semi-finals against Serbia's Novak Djokovic with an equally spectacular between-the-legs winner that left Dabul stunned on the other side of the net late in the second set.
Federer threw his arms up in triumph while cheers rained down as fans showed their adulation by bowing to the 16-time major champion and Dabul applauded with his racket.
The second-seeded Federer next plays Germany's Andreas Beck, who beat compatriot Michael Berrer in straight sets.
