The Hindu : Sport : Federer through, Ferrer loses to Johansson

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Federer through, Ferrer loses to Johansson

Bhupathi and Knowles clinch a hard-fought victory over Berdych and Dlouchy

KEY BISCAYNE: Top-seeded Roger Federer’s quest for a belated 2008 title took a step forward with a straight-set win over Frenchman Gael Monfils in the Sony Ericsson Open on Saturday. The world’s No. 1 beat Monfils 6-3, 6-4 in the second round — the Swiss had a first-round bye — to set up a clash with Swede Robin Soderling in the third round.

In doubles action, India’s Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles of Bahamas clinched a hard-fought first round win. The fourth-seeded duo edged out Tomas Berdych and Lukas Dlouchy of the Czech Republic via super tie-break 3-6, 6-3, 10-5 to enter the second round of the hardcourt event being played at the Crandon Park.

Bhupathi and Knowles had put together a 10-match winning streak with titles in Memphis and Dubai before losing in the Indian Wells quarterfinals to eventual champions Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram.

The big points

“I played well on the big points,” Federer said. “The times he had break points, many times I served well and stayed aggressive. All in all, I played a very good match.”

Soderling prepared for the Federer match with a win over another Swiss, beating Stanislas Wawrinka 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Spaniard David Ferrer was the major casualty of the day, losing to veteran Swede Thomas Johansson 6-4, 7-5, opening up that quarter of the draw for Davydenko. Home crowd favourite Andy Roddick had a tough fight against Serbian qualifier Viktor Troicki before prevailing 5-7, 6-2, 6-4.

Extraordinary winner

Roddick hit a winner not found in any textbook at a critical time in the final set.

With Troicki serving at 4-5 in the final game, a rally forced Roddick to the sideline near the net, and when Troicki sliced a volley to the other side, Roddick chased down the ball as it bounced away from him, then spun to yank a backhand crosscourt onto the line for an extraordinary winner.

“I didn’t even see it,” Roddick said.

“I heard people yell and scream afterward, and I figured that was a good thing. As far as freak show trick shots, that’s up there. You don’t hit shots like that every day.”

Five points later Roddick had won, setting up a third round meeting with Czech Ivo Minar, who had come through the qualifiers, and beat Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela 6-3, 5-7, 6-3.

Ivanovic cruises

In the women’s draw, No. 2-seeded Ana Ivanovic cruised past France’s Emilie Loit 6-1, 6-2, and will next meet former world’s No.1 Lindsay Davenport. The two have never played before.

The American — playing this tournament for the first time in five years — also beat a French opponent, and also did it with ease, downing Camille Pin 6-2, 6-1.

“I have to approach it as if it’s a final,” Ivanovic said. “Growing up I saw her winning in Grand Slams, and she’s such a great player and great champion. So I expect a very tough match.”

Davenport, seeded 32nd, lost just six service points against Pin. Injuries, an aversion to the Florida island’s windy weather and a pregnancy last year kept her away.

“I would have never thought that five years ago would have been my last time I played here,” she said.

“But I have to say I’ve really enjoyed myself so far this year. I was excited when I got back out on that court. It’s a great, great centre court.”

The results (second round): Simone Bolelli bt Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 6-3; Julien Benneteau bt Ivo Karlovic 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(2); Janko Tipsarevic bt Fernando Verdasco 6-4, 7-6(4); Dudi Sela bt Tommy Robredo 7-6(5), 6-1; Jo-Wilfried Tsonga bt Jurgen Melzer 6-7(4), 7-5, 6-1; Ivo Minar bt Juan Ignacio Chela 6-3, 5-7, 6-3; Mikhail Youzhny bt Bobby Reynolds 6-2, 6-2; Nicolas Almagro bt Arnaud Clement 6-2, 6-2; Jose Acasuso bt Lleyton Hewitt 6-3, 7-6(4); Andy Roddick bt Viktor Troicki 5-7, 6-2, 6-4; Juan Monaco bt Ryan Sweeting 6-3, 7-5; Nikolay Davydenko bt Ernests Gulbis 3-6, 7-6(6), 7-6(3); Mario Ancic bt Andy Murray 6-2, 2-6, 7-6(7); Roger Federer bt Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-4; Robin Soderling bt Stanislas Wawrinka 3-6, 6-4, 6-3; Thomas Johansson bt David Ferrer 6-4, 7-5.

Women: Lucie Safarova bt Karin Knapp 3-6, 7-5, 6-0; Elena Dementieva bt Kateryna Bondarenko 6-0, 6-4; Sybille Bammer bt Tathiana Garbin 6-2, 6-2; Dinara Safina bt Aleksandra Wozniak 6-2, 6-2; Daniela Hantuchova bt Milagros Sequera 6-2, 6-1; Zheng Jie bt Nadia Petrova 2-1, retired; Lindsay Davenport bt Camille Pin 6-2, 6-1; Dominika Cibulkova bt Francesca Schiavone 3-6, 6-4, 6-4; Anna Chakvetadze bt Tamira Paszek 6-3, 6-2; Ai Sugiyama bt Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-2, 6-3; Alisa Kleybanova bt Nicole Vaidisova 6-4, 6-0; Vera Zvonareva bt Ekaterina Bychkova 3-6, 6-3, 6-2; Amelie Mauresmo bt Peng Shuai 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(2); Ana Ivanovic bt Emilie Loit 6-1, 6-2; Jelena Jankovic bt Sofia Arvidsson 6-7(7), 6-2, 7-6(9). — Agencies

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