Tennis/US Open: Roger Federer, an overwhelming favourite to retain his title, continued to progress with unruffled ease against the Belgian Olivier Rochus whom he beat 6-3, 7-6, 6-2. The world number one has yet to drop a set, and treads with as much independence off the court as he does on it.

Unlike the majority of the players, Federer is not signed up to one of the major management groups, and on this occasion his part-time coach, Tony Roche, has stayed in Australia. "I think it was very important for me to learn about life, without somebody always telling me what to do. With Tony I have the expertise when I need it."

It is sometimes overlooked that for all his immense skill and timing, Federer continues to work assiduously on his fitness. "I've always been complimented because everything looks easy and smooth, but I've really worked hard so my movement is even better, quicker, smoother."

If this sounds like an advertisement for perfection, then it is not that far off the mark. Only three defeats this year; a mere nine since the beginning of last year.

However, the Swiss, who plays Nicolas Kiefer in the next round for a place in the quarter-finals, refuses to get embroiled in conversations about his place in the tennis hierarchy. To date he has won five grand slams, including three in succession at Wimbledon. "People can talk about it when I'm gone - maybe how good or how great I was."

Tim Henman, who no longer plays for Britain in the Davis Cup, was always scheduled to have a two-week break after the US Open. This was obviously extended by his first-round loss when his ongoing back problem flared up again. He is due to play the first of five scheduled tournaments in Bangkok beginning on September 26. "But I have to face facts (about my back) and try and deal with the situation. If I can get healthy again I want to do as well as I possibly can."

After reaching the semi-finals at both Roland Garros and the US Open last year, the past eight months have been disappointing for Henman, who admitted last week he struggled to find any motivation up to Wimbledon.

There has barely been a women's match worth the name to date, although today's quarter-final between Venus Williams and Kim Clijsters may deliver. Williams has drawn a good deal of criticism for her apparent ignorance of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. As one commentator observed, she was so removed from earth she should have been christened Pluto.

Lindsay Davenport opened up the Labour Day programme with a stroll in the park against France's Nathalie Dechy, reaching the last eight with a 6-0, 6-3 victory. Dechy took the Californian to three sets in the semi-finals of the Australian Open this year but this time failed to upset the rhythm of Davenport's ground strokes.

Davenport has found it tough expunging the memories of her three-set defeat against Venus Williams in the Wimbledon final this year, while the recurrence of a back injury meant she had few matches and little time for practice before this tournament. "This was one of the best matches I have played so far. I felt like I was really aggressive, and I was moving well."

Clijsters, the most in-from player coming into Flushing Meadows, but as yet without a grand slam title to her name, rushed through her fourth-round match, beating Venezuela's Maria Vento-Kabchi 6-1, 6-0.

* Guardian Service