Roger Federer defeats Peter Luczak but aim is Rafael Nadal
World’s No.1 Roger Federer of Switzerland had an emphatic return at Rolland Garros Monday, defeating Peter Luczak of Australia in straight sets 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 in the first round of the French Open.
Federer, the 2009 French Open champion, kick-started his title defense in a dominating fashion, overpowering the Australian in three sets.
Federer, 28, fired seven aces and completed 49 of 69 first serve attempts (71 percent) to cap a swashbuckling match for the defending French Open champion.
Luczak, who suffered another first round exit for the fourth time in four years, could not respond to the Swiss all-around brilliance. Federer showed an array of forehand and crosscourt beauties to completely baffle the clueless Luczak play after play.
Ranked 71st in the world, Luczak could not also control his returns as he committed woeful 21 unforced errors against Federer’s 11 miscues.
The opening set went back and forth between Federer and Luczak. Though Federer capitalized well on his break opportunities to take the first taste of the lead at 1-0, Luczak kept coming at Federer with succession of solid crosscourt shots.
In every Federer’s masterful shot, Luczak was able to respond with his own shots. The two went toe-to-toe but it was the Swiss’s aggression that prevailed, winning the first set 6-4.
In the second set, Federer kept coming on and applied pressure on Luczak. The Australian managed to level the score at 1-1, nevertheless, Federer piled in more shots to take the second set 6-1.
Federer carried his aggressiveness in the third set, launching a flurry of baseline shots and nifty net play. Eventually, Federer captured her seventh straight win at Rolland Garros in the expense of Luczak in just over an hour.
After the match, Federer said he had an easy time controlling the flow of the game.
"I was pretty relaxed," Federer told reporters Monday. "It was like a perfect match to get off the French Open campaign, really."
Aside from his aces, Federer also produced 34 winners and won 34 of 81 receiving points (46 percent).
However, in spite of another masterful performance from the Swiss Maestro, critics believe that Federer has a tendency to let things get out of hand. Federer was seen arguing with the game umpire on Luczak’s questionable serve. He then waved his arms to show his objection on the call.
After the brief officiating discussion, Luzcak committed a double-faulted to end the first set in favor of Federer.
As expected, Federer moved on and dazzled with some nice backhand shots on the baseline. There’s a play in the match where Federer rushed from the back of the baseline and was still able to drop a nifty shot above the net. The play was a testament of Federer’s mastery of tennis on display.
Despite losing the match, Luczak said he was happy that it was Federer who beat him fair and square. The Australian even said that he enjoys every opportunity to play with the best tennis player in the world, whether he win or lose.
Federer, who is in his 44th majors tournament, is looking to add another Grand Slam title to his 16 trophies – the most by any professional male tennis player in the history of the game.
Tennis followers expect Federer to reach the finals again and meet with his bitter rival Rafael Nadal for the title.
Federer will next face world’s No.70 Alejandro Falla of Colombia at the start of the second round matches Wednesday.
Federer, who never failed to reach a Grand Slam semi-final match since 2005, is attempting to carry the same flare and tenacity in the match.
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