Federer and Nishikori Ease Into Round Three of French Open

May 27, 2015 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

Roger Federer reached the third round of the French Open on Wednesday, beating Marcel Granollers 6-2, 7-6(1), 6-3. The 2009 French Open champion didn’t have his best stuff on the day, coming back from 0-2 and 2-4 down in the second set, but played well enough in big spots to move on at Roland Garros.

“I think I was actually playing very well,” said Federer. “I wasn’t nervous really. I think things went well for me for the first couple of sets. I think I was in control. Even though I was down a break in the second set, I still felt the match was in my racquet. And when you feel that way, obviously you’re always going to feel more confident, more comfortable, not nervous.”

Federer hit 38 winners and broke Granollers five times to advance. He will take on Damir Dzumhur in the third-round.

Kei Nishikori also made his way into the third round with a 7-5, 6-4, 6-4 win over Brazil’s Thomaz Belluci.

“I’m feeling really good about my first two matches and winning three straight sets against a tough player like Thomaz,” said Nishikori. “I’m very happy to be going to the next round. This year, I’m feeling comfortable and very confident, and my body is good. My mentality is also good, so I’m very focused.”

Nishikori won the first four games of the second set and kept his foot on the gas the whole match despite some comeback bids by Belluci. He will meet Benjamin Becker next after the German took down 32nd-seeded Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 6-4, 0-6, 1-6, 7-5, 10-8.

Fourth-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych beat his countryman Radek Stepanek 6-3, 6-7(7), 6-3, 6-3 to reach the third-round. He converted on five of his 14 break point chances.

Berdych takes on France’s Benoit Paire next, after Paire pulled off the upset over 10th seed Fabio Fognini 6-1, 6-3, 7-5.

American Steve Johnson also reached the third round with an impressive 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(5), 7-6(6) win over Ukraine’s Sergiy Stakhovsky.


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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