Federer, Serena Cruise at Olympics; Roddick v Djokovic Tuesday
- 94 Comments
No. 1 seed and reigning Wimbledon champ Roger Federer made it look easy on Monday at the London Olympics on the lawns at Wimbledon, rolling over France’s Julien Benneteau 6-2, 6-2.
ADHEREL
“I was able to put in another solid performance today,” said Federer, who is looking to duplicate fellow Swiss Marc Rosset’s gold medal effort at the 1992 Olympics. “There was a bit of a swirly wind and I think he might have struggled a little bit with his serve in these conditions, whereas indoors it is straightforward and you can get great rhythm.”
Federer was also aided by a Benneteau injury that worsened as the match went on.
The Swiss in his cupcake draw will next face Uzbek Denis Istomin, who beat Gilles Muller of Luxembourg 6-7(4), 7-6(3) 7-5.
Other Top 10-seeded winners were No. 7 Janko Tipsarevic edging German Philipp Petzschner in three, No. 9 Juan Martin del Potro defeating Italy’s Andreas Seppi, and No. 10 John Isner advancing.
In unseeded play American Andy Roddick won to set up a meeting with No. 2 Novak Djokovic. He was joined in the winner’s circle by fellow un-seeds Nikolay Davydenko, Feliciano Lopez, Marcos Baghdatis, Milos Raonic and Lleyton Hewitt.
The men’s matches take center stage Tuesday at Wimbledon with blockbusters (2) Novak Djokovic vs. Andy Roddick, (3) Andy Murray vs. Jarkko Nieminen (for the Brits) and (5) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs. Milos “The Missile” Raonic, along with (13) Marin Cilic vs. Lleyton Hewitt, (15) Kei Nishikori vs. Nikolay Davydenko, (16) Richard Gasquet vs. Marcos Baghdatis, (9) Juan Monaco vs. Feliciano “F-Lo” Lopez, and in doubles the Bryan brothers vs. Russians Nikolay Davydenko/Mikhail Youzhny.
The only upset on the women’s side Monday was a non-upset when former No. 1 Venus Williams pummeled French Open runner-up and No. 9 seed Sara Errani of Italy 6-3, 6-1.
Sister Serena beat Poland’s Urszula Radwanska 6-2, 6-3, and will next meet No. 13 seed Vera Zvonareva, who beat Francesca Schiavone 6-3, 6-3.
“It’s a good match-up for us both,” Williams said of the Russian. “A Wimbledon final rematch. She’s playing so well and doing everything great, so it’s not going to be easy. It’s going to be tough for me to play against someone so tough so soon.”
Struggling on the lawns in three-set wins were world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka over Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu, No. 6 Petra Kvitova over Peng Shuai of China, No. 8 Caroline Wozniacki over Belgian Yanina Wickmayer, and No. 15 Sabine Lisicki over Ons Jabeur of Tunisia.
“I played so, so bad in the second set. I did a lot of mistakes on my forehand,” said the former Wimbledon champ Kvitova. “It was a big key to break her in the first game of the third. It wasn’t easy — I had a lot of break points — but after that it was much easier.”
Other winners of note were Kim Clijsters and Brits Heather Watson and Laura Robson.
Highlights of Tuesday play in London are Venus Williams vs. Aleksandra Wozniak, (3) Maria Sharapova vs. Brit Laura Robson, (14) Maria Kirilenko vs. Brit Heather Watson, and (1) Victoria Azarenka vs. the crafty Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez.
You Might Like:
Andy Roddick Says “Ask The Boss Lady” Serena About Playing Olympic Mixed Doubles
Venus Williams Sings Karaoke on 311 Cruise Ship [Video]
Serena Williams: I’ll Let Andy Roddick Serve First In Mixed Doubles And Let Him Feel Like A Macho Man
Tennis Rumor Mill: Roddick to Debut New Coach at US Open?
Andy Roddick Returns to Nebraska for Special Olympics [Video]
