Roger Federer became the first player to win 300 matches at the ATP Masters 1000 level, beating Vasek Pospisil on Wednesday in Cincinnati.

The 7-6 (7-4) 5-7 6-2 victory in just over two hours put the 33-year-old world No.3 into the third round as he began his final tune-up tournament for the US Open which begins on August 25.

“It’s a nice round number,” said Federer of his most recent achievement.

“I’ve had some more important ones than the one today, but nevertheless it’s nice to reach such milestones.

“I was one of those guys who struggled early on in the Masters 1000. I know how hard it is to win all these matches because it’s always against top 50 players, if not top 20, if not top 10.

“From that standpoint, I’m obviously happy that it is at 300, it’s nice.”

The Swiss great, who had notched his 200th Masters match win against Lleyton Hewitt at Cincinnati five years ago, arrived at the tournament he has won five times off a runner-up finish to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Toronto.

He delivered a dominant third set to finally subdue the 46th-ranked Pospisil, who was a finalist last month in Washington.

He stretched his career record over the Canadian to 3-0.

After taking the first set in the tiebreaker, Federer was broken in the 12th game of the second as the challenger forced a deciding set.

But Federer powered through the third, breaking his opponent twice on the way to victory and finishing with 23 winners and 21 unforced errors, with six aces along the way.