Federer smashes his way into French Open last sixteen
Federer had a chance to close out the match in the third set when he took Massu’s serve to take a 6-5 lead but failed to win his game and lost the tie break.
Federer will next face 20th seed Tomas Berdych, who qualified to the last 16 following Nicolas Kiefer’s left wrist injury.
Earlier defending champion and tournament favourite, Rafael Nadal, outclassed USA’s Kevin Kim to progress to third round.
The second seed thrashed his opponent 6-2 6-1 6-4 in a one-sided match which was due to be played on Thursday but was rescheduled because of rain delays. Nadal takes on Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu today.
Meanwhile, on centre court 2004 French Open champion Gaston Gaudio ousted 2003 winner Juan Carlos Ferrero in straight sets 7-5 7-5 7-6 (9/7) to progress to the tournament’s last 16.
Other winners include eighth seed, James Blake of the United States, who defeated Spain’s Nicolas Almagro 6-7 (5/7) 6-2 6-4 6-4 as well as 12th seed from Croatia Mario Ancic and sixth seed Nikolay Davydenko of Russia.
Third seed David Nalbandian, from Argentina, looked like a true survivor after overcoming Russia’s Dmitry Tursunov in a five-set battle on court number two.
The 24-year-old eventually got rid of his opponent 2-6 5-7 6-4 6-2 6-2 after three hours and 11 minutes of play. World number one, Amelie Mauresmo, claims she does not fear the pressure at the French Open any more after easily progressing to the last 16 with a straight-set win over Serbia & Montenegro’s Jelena Jankovic.
The Frenchwoman, whose best record on the Parisien red clay is the quarter-finals in 2003 and 2004, has often had problems coping with the pressure of playing on home ground.
But the Australian Open winner, who also reclaimed the world number one spot, insisted any nerves belonged to the past as she claimed her third consecutive win this year at the French Open without conceding a set.
“I made this match easy, I felt at ease and I controlled my shots very well,” Mauresmo said after her victory.
Mauresmo will face 16th seed of Russia, Nicole Vaidisova, in the last 16 tomorrow. Former world number one, Venus Williams, insisted her tennis was back after also advancing to the last 16 by defeating Croatian Karolina Sprem.
The 25-year-old American, who has featured in only three tournaments this term after having her season spoilt by injuries, beat her unseeded rival 7-5 6-3 in one hour and 40 minutes.
“I think this match was a challenge,” said Williams.
Today Williams will take on seventh seed Patty Schnyder of Switzerland who defeated Ukraine’s Julia Vakulenko 2-6 7-5 6-0.
World number two, Kim Clijsters, who reached the Roland Garros final in 2001 and 2003, won her second-round match which had been postponed because of the rain.
The 22-year-old Belgian stormed past Spain’s Conchita Martinez Granados 6-0 6-3.
Former world number one, Martina Hingis, posted a speedy victory as she crushed Czech Republic’s Zuzana Ondraskova 6-1 6-3 in less than 50 minutes to progress to the next round.
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