Roger Federer downs Radek Stepanek to move to the third round of the Sony Ericsson Open
World number 3, Swiss Maestro Roger Federer defeated world number 68 Radek Stepanek of Czech Republic in straight sets 6-3, 6-3 in the second round at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami on Saturday. Federer took just 1 hour and 2
minutes to oust his opponent.
The Swiss broke Stepanek in the sixth game of the opening set, taking a 4-2 lead. Serving for the set at 5-3, Federer successfully held his serve to win the first set 6-3.
The 29-year-old served quite well as he hit 5 aces and 80 per cent of the first serves in the opening set. Federer won 80 per cent of the points on his first serves. The Swiss converted the only break point he received in the opening
set. He did not face a single break point in the first set.
In the second set, Federer broke his opponent in the third game and held his next service game, taking a 3-1 lead. Serving to stay in the set at 3-5, Stepanek failed to hold his serve to lose the second set 3-6.
The Swiss Maestro delivered 59 per cent of the first serves and converted 85 per cent of them into points in the second set. Federer managed to save the only break point he faced in the second set. In comparison, Stepanek failed
to save any of the 2 break points he faced in the second set.
Talking to the reporters after the match, Federer said, “I was able to played solid and keep him moving and serving at a high first-serve percentage, which was the goal as well today. So all in all, I'm really pleased, because
I always know the dangers of Radek.”
With this win, The Swiss improved his win/loss record to 19-3 this season. The right handed lost to the Serbian Novak Djokovic 3-6, 6-3, 2-6 in the semi-finals at the BNP Paribas Open last week.
Federer will face world number 35 Juan Monaco of Argentina in the third round. The Argentine battled past world number 36 Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine in three sets 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-4 in the second round.
The Swiss said, talking about his next match, "I've seen him [Monaco] play for multiple years and he is a good player, nice backhands, good intensity. He was able to come through a tough one [today], which is going to help his
game, I'm sure. I'm ready for a tough challenge."
Federer leads the Argentine 1-0 in the head-to-head record. In their only previous meeting, the Swiss defeated Monaco in three sets 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 in the round of 32 at the German Open Tennis Championships in 2007.
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