E-Paper
Federer, Nadal, Robredo advance in Toronto
Top-seeded Roger Federer and defending champion Rafael Nadal cleared their first hurdles in straight sets at the Rogers Cup.
Top-seeded Roger Federer and defending champion Rafael Nadal cleared their first hurdles in straight sets at the Rogers Cup.
Federer accounted for Paul-Henri Mathieu of France, a semifinalist last year, 6-3, 6-4, while second-seeded Nadal eased past Olympic champ Nicolas Massu 6-3, 6-2.
For both favorites it was their first match since the Wimbledon final a month ago, where Federer defeated Nadal for his eighth Grand Slam title and fourth straight at the All England Club.
Federer hit 14 aces against Mathieu and broke him once in each set without offering a break point. He then walked off with a piece of cake brought on court to celebrate his 25th birthday.
"Everything went well, especially my serve," Federer said. "My footwork could do with a little work."
Nadal broke Massu twice in the last three games.
"I played a normal match, a simple match, it's very good for my confidence after a month off," Nadal said.
He'll next face South Korean qualifier Lee Hyung-taik, who beat Colombian qualifier Alejandro Falla 6-0, 6-7 (5), 6-1. Federer will meet another Frenchman, Sebastien Grosjean.
Sixth-seeded Nikolay Davydenko, who won his second clay title this year on Sunday in Poland, lost to Xavier Malisse of Belgium 6-3, 7-5. Malisse, twice a finalist on hardcourts this year, broke the Russian three times.
Tommy Robredo won the last four games to oust 2000 champ Marat Safin 7-5, 5-7, 6-2. Safin broke Robredo in the last game of the second set to level, but after Safin broke back for 2-2 in the deciding set, seventh-seeded Robredo pulled away to tie their matchups at four wins apiece.
