Roger Federer’s dream return to the French Open continued as the Swiss waltzed into quarter-finals by giving Argentine Leonardo Mayer a 6-2 6-3 6-3 masterclass on Sunday.
Roger Federer is having a dream return to French Open
Paris:
On Sunday, however, it appeared as if Federer was enjoying a leisurely stroll in the Parisian sun. After just over an hour, Federer was already two sets up. The 37-year-old played effortlessly, smacking winners around the court with self-confidence.
Mayer offered some semblance of resistance in the third set. But Federer broke decisively in the sixth game, ending his opponent’s ordeal on the first match point. Rafael Nadal ended the dream run of debutant Juan Ignacio Londero with a typically dominant 6-2 6-3 6-3 victory to power into the last eight.
In hot and breezy conditions, the Spaniard once again produced clay court tennis of the highest quality to make the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam event for the 38th time. The tone was set when he broke the 25-year-old Londero’s serve in the second game of the Court Philippe Chatrier duel. While his 78th-ranked opponent never threw in the towel, he could only try to delay the inevitable.
Londero had a break point early in the third set but Nadal stamped out that danger and broke in the very next game to close in on victory. With his eyes fixed firmly on claiming a 12th French Open title on Sunday, he seemed eager to finish the job swiftly. But after moving 4-1 ahead in the third set, he dropped serve for the first time in the match.Nadal’s pace appeared to drop ever so slightly and Londero even sensed another break two games later. Heavy hitting got him to 0-30 on the second seed’s serve, but Nadal reeled off four consecutive points.
In women’s singles, Petra Martic finally overcame her fourth round jinx at the Slams. The 28-year-old Croatian had plenty to celebrate as she reached the second week of a major for the first time by eclipsing Estonian Kaia Kanepi 5-7 6-2 6-4.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion, back at Roland Garros after a three-year hiatus, edged closer to a potential semi-final showdown with champion Rafael Nadal by cruising through the opening rounds seemingly unchallenged. His last-16 encounter was no exception. Things are likely to get trickier for Federer from now on as the third seed will next face Stan Wawrinka, who defeated Greek sixth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6 5-7 6-4 3-6 8-6.
On Sunday, however, it appeared as if Federer was enjoying a leisurely stroll in the Parisian sun. After just over an hour, Federer was already two sets up. The 37-year-old played effortlessly, smacking winners around the court with self-confidence.
Mayer offered some semblance of resistance in the third set. But Federer broke decisively in the sixth game, ending his opponent’s ordeal on the first match point. Rafael Nadal ended the dream run of debutant Juan Ignacio Londero with a typically dominant 6-2 6-3 6-3 victory to power into the last eight.
In hot and breezy conditions, the Spaniard once again produced clay court tennis of the highest quality to make the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam event for the 38th time. The tone was set when he broke the 25-year-old Londero’s serve in the second game of the Court Philippe Chatrier duel. While his 78th-ranked opponent never threw in the towel, he could only try to delay the inevitable.
Londero had a break point early in the third set but Nadal stamped out that danger and broke in the very next game to close in on victory. With his eyes fixed firmly on claiming a 12th French Open title on Sunday, he seemed eager to finish the job swiftly. But after moving 4-1 ahead in the third set, he dropped serve for the first time in the match.Nadal’s pace appeared to drop ever so slightly and Londero even sensed another break two games later. Heavy hitting got him to 0-30 on the second seed’s serve, but Nadal reeled off four consecutive points.
In women’s singles, Petra Martic finally overcame her fourth round jinx at the Slams. The 28-year-old Croatian had plenty to celebrate as she reached the second week of a major for the first time by eclipsing Estonian Kaia Kanepi 5-7 6-2 6-4.