Federer, Murray, Serena through to 3rd round
MADRID: Roger Federer made a winning return after a two-month absence from the court as he cruised to a 6-3, 6-3 win over Radek Stepanek to move into the third round of the Madrid Open on Tuesday.
A solitary break in the fourth game was enough for the Swiss world No.2 to take the first-set 6-3.
And he looked set to storm through the second as he served for the match with a double break at 5-2 in the second.
However, Stepanek then showed some resistance to break the record 17- time Grand Slam champion for the only time in the match.
The Czech’s fightback didn’t last long though as Federer broke again in the very next game to seal a third round tie against either Japan’s Kei Nishikori or Viktor Troicki of Serbia.
Andy Murray also claimed a victory but was made to struggle at times by World No.26 Florian Mayer, before coming through in two tie-breaks.
Mayer was made to rue numerous opportunities to have taken the first set as he passed up five set points in the tie-break before world No. 3 Murray made sure with a crosscourt forehand on his second setpoint.
The German surged ahead at the start of the second set and led 4-1 before Murray broke back for the first time in the match at 4-2 to force the game into a second tie-break. And the Briton was far more dominant at the second time of asking as he began to read Mayer’s serve to good effect and wrapped up the tie-break 7- 3 to move into round three, where he wi l l meet France’s Gilles Simon.
Earlier, Serbian N o . 9 Tipsarevic became the first seed in the men’s event to fal l on Tuesday morning as he was beaten by clay court specialist Juan Monaco 7- 5, 6- 3. And eighth seed Richard Gasquet also suffered an early exit as the Frenchman Wo r ld Janko was beaten 7- 5, 3- 6, 6- 4 by Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver.
World No.15 Stanislas Wawrinka, however, continued his fine form after winning the Portugal Open last week with a comfortable 6- 4, 6- 4 win over Romanian qualifier Marius Copil.
In the women’s event World No.1 Serena Williams eased into the third round with a 6-2, 7- 5 win over Spain’s Lourdes Dominguez Lino. The American had struggled early on in her first-round match against Kazak qualifier Yulia Puntitseva, but began much brighter as she broke Dominguez Lino straight away on her way to winning the first set 6-2.
The second set started in a similar vein as Williams seized a 2- 0 lead, but Dominguez Lino fought back bravely to level matters at 2-2 before the next seven games went with serve.
— AFP