Second seed Rafael Nadal cruised into the US Open third round on Thursday, thrashing Brazilian journeyman Rogerio Dutra Silva and losing just three games.

The 6-2 6-1 6-0 victory took the Spaniard’s win-loss record to 55-3 for the year and edged him closer to a potential quarter-final clash with old rival Roger Federer.

“I was solid with the serve which is always important,” said Nadal, whose hardcourt record this year stands at 17-0 thanks to his 92-minute triumph on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“I played better as the match developed. It was great to be back on court in the night session for the first time in two years. It’s amazing – it’s a great court.”

Dutra Silva, the world No.134, had come through qualifying and saved seven match points in his opening-round victory over Vasek Pospisil, which was also the 29-year-old Brazilian’s first win on the main tour this year.

It was not the sort of form which was going to trouble the world No.2.

Nadal, with nine titles under his belt since returning in February from a seven-month injury layoff, swept to victory courtesy of eight breaks of serve and 30 winners.

The 2010 US Open winner and 12-time grand slam champion next faces Croatia’s Ivan Dodig, the world No.38, who surprisingly beat him the last time they met on hardcourt in Montreal in 2011.

“Dodig is a tough player. I lost to him the last time in a tough, close match. He has had two good wins here over Fernando Verdasco and Nikolay Davydenko. He’s very dangerous,” said Nadal.