Federer opens Madrid campaign with win; can meet countryman Wawrinka in third round

After a surprise semi-final loss to Albert Montanes in Estoril last week, World No. 1 Roger Federer insisted he was not worried about his form going into Roland Garros and backed up his statement with a 6-2, 7-6(4) win over Benjamin Becker in his opening match at the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open Tuesday.

Federer, who is the defending champion at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 clay-court tournament after defeating Rafael Nadal in the final last year, is this week looking to reach his first final since capturing his 16th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open (d. Murray).

The Swiss broke twice in the second and eighth games to seal a one-set lead, but could not find a way through Becker’s defences in the second set and was denied on a match point in the 12th game before the German forced a tie-break. Federer improved to a 7-4 record in tie-breaks this year, though, as he sealed victory in one hour and 21 minutes.

"There was a lot of good serving but today was important to play a clean match and that is what I was able to do," said Federer. "I served solidly, I returned great and that combination is tough for the opponent. I could have made it a bit easier for myself in the second set I had some chances but that´s the sort of stuff I´ve got to get through and it was important for me to win the break and close it out."

A possible third-round opponent for Federer is his countryman and Olympic gold-medal winning doubles partner Stanislas Wawrinka, who defeated Marcel Granollers 6-4, 6-4 in a match featuring 10 breaks of serve. World No. 23 Wawrinka must first face Leonardo Mayer in the second round.

ATP World Tour No. 9 Fernando Verdasco impressed his hometown crowd as he made smooth progress to the third round of the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open with a 7-6(5), 6-3 victory over Croatian Ivo Karlovic on Wednesday evening in the Spanish capital.

The Spaniard, who reached the quarter-finals in Madrid for the first time last year (l. to Nadal), withstood 11 aces from Karlovic’s racquet and saved both break points he faced to seal victory in one hour and 39 minutes. Victory for Verdasco stopped a three-match losing streak against Karlovic and reduced his head-to-head deficit against the 6’10’’ Croatian to 2-3.


Tuesday, 11 May, 2010

Singles - Second Round
[1] R Federer (SUI) d B Becker (GER) 62 76(4)
[6] F Verdasco (ESP) d I Karlovic (CRO) 76(5) 63

Singles - First Round
[10] M Youzhny (RUS) d L Lacko (SVK) 26 63 61
**[LL] M Fish (USA) d *[LL] M Russell (USA) 62 76(1)
[13] J Isner (USA) d [Q] C Rochus (BEL) 57 62 62
[Q] D Munoz-De La Nava (ESP) d [14] S Querrey (USA) 67(3) 63 75 - saved 1 M.P.
[15] S Wawrinka (SUI) d [WC] M Granollers (ESP) 64 64
[16] T Bellucci (BRA) d [WC] P Riba (ESP) 76(5) 61
P Petzschner (GER) d F Fognini (ITA) 61 46 75
E Gulbis (LAT) d A Montanes (ESP) 75 61
M Baghdatis (CYP) d M Chiudinelli (SUI) 63 64
E Schwank (ARG) d P Mathieu (FRA) 63 63
G Garcia-Lopez (ESP) d [Q] D Gimeno-Traver (ESP) 63 64
[Q] J Chela (ARG) d P Cuevas (URU) 20 ret. (back)
V Hanescu (ROU) d I Andreev (RUS) 36 65 ret. (right ankle)

*replaced [11] T Berdych (CZE) - right hip
**replaced [WC] D Nalbandian (ARG) - hamstring