Maria Sharapova, above, was merciless in ousting American teenager Beatrice Capra, scoring a 6-0, 6-0 win in their third round US Open contest. (EPA)

NEW YORK (Reuters) — The man for all occasions, Roger Federer provided a masterful demonstration of skill and precision in gale-force winds to breeze into the fourth round of the US Open on Saturday.

On a day when the swirling gusts teased and tormented the world’s best players, the Swiss master showed exactly how and why he has been able to overcome the obstacles to win 16 grand slam titles on all surfaces and conditions in beating Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-4 6-3 6-3.

“I kind of felt comfortable,” Federer said. “I knew what I could do and what I couldn't do.”

Maria Sharapova and Caroline Wozniacki also blew their opponents off the court to set up a dream fourth-round meeting at a championship bereft of surprises but bubbling towards a grand finish next week.

The pair showed no mercy against their lower-ranked rivals, each romping to victory in 73 minutes despite being involved in some farcical moments thrown up by the conditions.

Sharapova was aced by American teenager Beatrice Capra when taking an undignified swing at a ball swept out of her reach by a gust of wind.

Wozniacki was gifted a winner after a seemingly harmless forehand bounced over the head of Chan Yung-Jan and into the stands.

Serving was a lottery as players were often forced to re-toss, while umbrellas, towels and litter blew around the court and forced several points to be replayed.

For most of the top players, the wild weather made no difference to their results and Novak Djokovic and Robin Soderling joined Federer, Sharapova and Wozniacki by winning in straight sets.

The lone major casualty was Serbia's Jelena Jankovic, a finalist in New York two years ago and the fourth seed this time.

She was beaten 6-2 7-6 by Kaia Kanepi of Estonia after enduring the worst of the conditions. On one of her serves, Jankovic only managed to catch the ball with the frame of her racket.

“I had a really hard time hitting the balls,” said Jankovic, the highest-seeded player beaten at Flushing Meadows this year. “You hit the ball one direction, it goes another.

You’re just getting ready to hit the ball and it just moves away from you.”