Roger Federer cruises past Xavier Malisse into the quarterfinals of Mutua Madrid Open
World number 3, Swiss Maestro Roger Federer defeated Belgian Xavier Malisse, ranked 49th in the world, in straight sets 6-4, 6-3 in the third round at the Mutua Madrid Open in Madrid on Thursday. The match lasted for
just one hour and 10 minutes.
Federer took the early lead as he broke Malisse in the second game of the opening set to go ahead 3-0. However, Malisse fought back and broke back in the seventh game to reduce Federer’s lead to 4-3. The Belgian held his serve
in the next game to level the score at 4-4. But Malisse’s success was short lived as Federer won two consecutive games, claiming the set 6-4.
The Swiss delivered a couple of aces and 63 percent of the first serves in the opening set, converting 76 percent of them into points. On the other hand, Malisse fired five aces but his first serve percentage was pretty average
as he hit just 50 percent of the first serves and won 71 percent of the points on them. Federer converted both break points he received and saved one of the two break points he faced in the first set.
The former world number 1 broke his opponent in the sixth game of the second set to take a 4-2 lead. The Swiss consolidated on the single break of serve and grabbed the set 6-3.
Federer hit three aces and 60 percent of the first serves in the second set. The right-handed won 73 percent of the first service points in the second set. In comparison, Malisse kept his first serve percentage at 52 percent and
bagged 79 percent of the points on his first serve in the second set. The Belgian won 27 percent of the first return points in the second set. The right-handed managed to save three of the four break points he faced in the second set.
It was an easy win for the two time former champion of Mutua Madrid Open in contrast to his previous match. The Swiss had to save a match point to battle past Spaniard Feliciano Lopez, ranked 39th in the world, in three
sets 7-6(13), 6-7(1), 7-6(7) in the second round.
Commenting on the match, Federer said, "It was a quick turnaround. Mentally it was tough, I had to be ready to play a different kind of match (from the night before). I didn't have high expectations, I just wanted to play a good
match. I was able to do that."
The Swiss will take on Swedish Robin Soderling, seeded fifth at the event, in the quarterfinals. Soderling defeated world number 22 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France in straight sets 7-6(8), 7-5 in the third round.
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