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Roger Federer of Switzerland pumps his fist after a shot against Jose Acasuso of Argentina during their second round match at the Cincinnati Masters tennis tournament August 19, 2009. [Xinhua/Reuters] |
World number one Roger Federer advanced into the third round of the Cincinnati Masters on Wednesday.
The Swiss ace sailed to a 6-3, 7-5 win over Argentine Jose Acasuso to set up a meeting with Spaniard David Ferrer for a place in the quarterfinals.
Federer became father of twin girls last month.
Briton Andy Murray, just rising to the world number two place, topped Spaniard Nicolas Almagro 7-6, 6-2. He saved a set point at 6-5 down before easing through the second set to secure a meeting with Czech Radek Stepanek, a 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 winner over Russian Marat Safin.
Third ranked Rafael Nadal, in his second tournament after coming back from his knee injury, also progressed, moving past Italian Andreas Seppi 7-6, 7-6.
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Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a return to Andreas Seppi of Italy during their second round match at the Cincinnati Masters tennis tournament in Cincinnati, August 19, 2009. [Xinhua/Reuters] |
World number four Novak Djokovic of Serbia eased past Ivan Ljubicic 7-6 6-4, despite 15 aces from the Croatian to book a meeting with Jeremy Chardy of France.
But world number five Andy Roddick suffered a setback in his preparation for the U.S. Open with his 7-6, 7-6 defeat to fellow American Sam Querrey in the night match.
Querrey next faces Australian Lleyton Hewitt who beat Benjamin Becker 6-3, 6-3.
Seventh-seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who upset Federer in the quarter-finals of the Montreal Masters last week, was dispatched 7-6, 6-2 by Australian qualifier Chris Guccione.
He lost an epic first-set tiebreak 14-12 against the big-serving Australian, ranked 124th, who saved five set points and clinched victory with his 20th ace to set up a clash with Czech Tomas Berdych
Paul-Henri Mathieu set up a meeting with Nadal by beating Ivo Karlovic of Croatia 7-6, 6-4, while Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain ousted Russian Mikhail Youzhny.
Garcia-Lopez will play Frenchman Julien Benneteau, who became the first lucky loser to reach the last 16 in Cincinnati since 2004 by beating Austrian Juergen Melzer 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.
(Xinhua News Agency August 21, 2009)
