samedi 29 mai 2010

Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer turn up the heat on sunny day in Paris

Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer turn up the heat on sunny day in Paris


Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal set the winning example as the French Open took advantage of a day of sunshine Friday to catch up the schedule after two days of schedule-wrecking rain.

The elite pair led a sweep of the top five with Federer into the fourth round and Nadal one behind in the third.

Top seed Federer won the 700th ATP match of his career as he easily handled German Julian Reister 6-4, 6-0, 6-4.

Four-time champion Nadal made up for lost time after his match was washed out a day earlier, defeating Argentine Horacio Zeballos 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 in just over 90 minutes.

Third seed Novak Djokovic showed he's getting his spring allergies under control with a victory over Japan's Kei Nishikori 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 as the Serb plays for the first time in weeks after withdrawing ill from Madrid.

Number four Andy Murray overcame a third-set lapse where he won just 10 points, to roll Marcos Baghdatis 6-2, 6-3, 0-6, 6-2. Fifth seed and losing 2009 finalist Robin Soderling beat Spain's Albert Montanes 6-4, 7-5, 2-6, 6-3.

Murray had a simple explanation for his temporary fade: "I didn't play a very good set, that was it. That's all that happened - I didn't play well, I made mistakes."

Federer cannot be more pleased after three straight-set wins and the loss of a modest 27 games in nine nets as he takes on good friend Stan Wawrinka for the second time in as many events after beating his countryman in Madrid.

Wawrinka stopped Fabio Fognini 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 a day after the Italian completed a two-day win over Gael Monfils.

"I feel fine," said Federer. "From a ranking standpoint, I haven't played top guys yet. But I've faced dangerous players who are skillful on this surface. The guy today just won five matches (including qualifying) here in Paris, so you can never underestimate those kind of players.

"With my own form I'm very happy. I'm ready to mix up my game playing aggressive. I'm getting very few breaks, and that's obviously always a good thing looking ahead."

Nadal earned his Paris victory almost a year after suffering his first and only loss after 31 wins at Roland Garros when as top seed he was knocked out by Robin Soderling in the fourth round.

"I played a little bit better, but not perfect," said Nadal. "It is still a little bit of improvement. It's always important to play a little bit better every day.

"I'm happy for the victory. It was not easy, as he's a good player. So it's a good win for me."

Australian grinder Lleyton Hewitt put in a five-set performance to oust Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 for a third- round spot against Nadal.

"I've got nothing to lose out there," said the two-time Grand Slam winner. "It's a matter of going out there and playing my game, and hopefully I can hit the ball well."

French number one Jo-Wilfried Tsonga held off Dutchman Thiemo De Bakker 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (7-4), 6-3, 6-4.

On the women's side, Serena and Venus Williams also followed the winning ---, with top seed Serena winning her second-round match over Julia Georges 6-1, 6-1 and number two Venus reaching her first fourth round at the event since 2006 with a 6-3, 6-4 defeat of Dominika Cibulkova.

2004 finalist and fifth seed Elena Dementieva outlasted Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak 6-7 (2-7), 6-3, 6-4, while Maria Kirilenko upset defending champion Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-3, 2-6, 6-4.

Maria Sharapova and Justine Henin set up a thriller as the pair of former number one players who hold 10 titles at the majors between them, set up a clash.

The 12th-seeded Sharapova beat Belgian Kristen Flipkens 6-3, 6-3 with Henin, her ranking down to 23rd after quitting the game for 20 months in 2008 and making a return this year, advancing over Czech Klara Zakopalova by the identical scoreline.