adminMonte Carlo – Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer rushed into the third round at the Monte Carlo Masters yesterday, with both posting quick opening victories.
Top seed Nadal, champion at eight of the last nine editions, spent 72 minutes in smothering any upset hopes of Russian Teimuraz Gabashvili, who got off to a shock 3-1 lead before Spain’s king of clay reeled him in for a 6-4, 6-1 success.
Federer, seeded fourth at a Masters 1000 event that he has never won, delivered a 6-1, 6-2 thrashing to fellow veteran Radek Stepanek.
Federer’s rout in 52 minutes was seven minutes longer than another easy victory by holder Novak Djokovic a day earlier.
“I was able to get a lot of returns back into play,” said Federer. “On clay, when you have the upper hand from the baseline, it’s kind of hard to get out of it.
“I think that’s how it was for Radek today. I had a good start to both sets, then I was solid on my own service games.
“The next thing you know, you’re in the lead and you can hit freely. It was clearly a good match to start my claycourt campaign.”
The Swiss will next face off for a quarter-final spot today when he takes on Lukas Rosol.
The Czech booked his spot over Frenchman Michael Llodra 6-4, 6-4.
“It’s surprising the way he came through, but then again, we know he can play good tennis,” Federer said of Rosol, “He’s dangerous. He takes big cuts at the ball.
“On clay, on a slower surface, sometimes you get more chances to hit the ball big.”
Federer improved to 14-2 over Stepanek, 35, whose last victory in the series came in Rome six years ago.
Federer, 32, swept the first set in 22 minutes and faced his only spot of bother as he saved a pair of break points in the sixth game of the second set. – Sport24.
Online Reporter