Wednesday 25 May 2011

Roger Federer Eases Through in Paris


Roger Federer produced a masterclass to brush aside French wildcard Maxime Teixeira in 84 minutes 6-3 6-0 6-2 in the second round of the French Open at Roland Garros.

The Swiss was broken back in the first set but went on to win comfortably with some sublime shotmaking, at one point winning 13 consecutive games.

He will next face Janko Tipsarevic after he also won in straight sets, 6-1 6-3 6-0 over Pere Riba.

World number 181 Teixeira had never played in the main draw of an ATP-level event, let alone a Grand Slam, but set up a meeting with the world number three thanks to a five-set victory over fellow Frenchman Vincent Millot in round one.

"It is so hard to play on a big court when you're not used to it. I think Max did a good match. He fought well," said Federer, 16 times a Grand Slam champion, after their match.

Teixeira reflected: "It was an incredible experience. Playing against Roger is something I will never forget. I did what I could."

The 22-year-old began the match confidently despite being broken in the second game, looking to attack Federer, who has not won a Slam since the Australian Open last year.

He responded to that loss immediately, mixing drop shots with accurate drives and taking advantage of a break point when a passing shot was adjudged to have caught the line, much to Federer's disgust.

It would be the only break secured by him throughout the three sets, but during the first of them he put up an admirable fight while Federer found his range.

Federer hit his rhythm to break for 5-3 after a long battle on deuce and closed the set out in the next game, the second of 13 he would win in succession.

During that bagel second set Federer toyed with his opponent, sometimes bringing him in close before passing him and leaving him scrambling for drop shots on several occasions.

The crowd's enthusiasm for their man did not dim in the Paris sunshine and, following a double Federer break in the third set, they acclaimed the hold which ended the spirit-sapping run of games lost. It included a lovely sliced drop shot with sidespin, a shot often favoured by Federer himself.

That put the score at 4-1 and following a further Federer hold, the fans rose to cheer Teixeira as he prepared to serve in what could have proven the final game of the match.

He found himself match point down, but saved it - then won one more game despite throwing away his first serve on both deuce and advantage.




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