Roger Federer advanced to the third round of the Madrid Masters yesterday with a 6-3 7-6 win over Czech Radek Stepanek on his return from a three-week break.
Serbian third seed Novak Djokovic survived a searching test to beat Romanian Victor Hanescu, while Russia's Nikolay Davydenko, seeded five, was sent packing by American qualifier Robby Ginepri.
![Switzerland's Roger Federer returns the ball to Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic during their match at the Madrid Masters Series tennis tournament in Madrid Oct. 15, 2008. [Xinhua/Reuters]](http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20081016/000802c98ccc0a611a6826.jpg "Switzerland's Roger Federer returns the ball to Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic during their match at the Madrid Masters Series tennis tournament in Madrid Oct. 15, 2008. [Xinhua/Reuters]") |
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Switzerland's Roger Federer returns the ball to Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic during their match at the Madrid Masters Series tennis tournament in Madrid Oct. 15, 2008. [Xinhua/Reuters]
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Initially Federer had no such concerns, romping to a 3-0 lead as Stepanek's serve fell apart.
But the world number 30 stepped up in the second set -- winning all but one of the points on his first serve -- and seized the advantage in the set decider with a sensational drop shot, before pumping his fist wildly in celebration.
Two points later he had even greater impetus as he took a 5-3 lead but could not hold on as Federer applied the pressure to take the tie break 8-6 and win 6-3 7-6 in one hour and 26 minutes.
"I think I moved with a spring in my step. My feeling out there was positive and confident which is a good feeling to have in the first match which tends to be very tricky," Federer said.