Fed-Ex turns on the style but Stanislas works hard to book berth in round three of ATP Masters
Toronto
Two-time champion Roger Federer turned on the style but Swiss compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka had to work much harder to advance on Tuesday at the ATP Toronto Masters.
Second seed Federer showed no mercy against Canadian Peter Polansky in a 6-2, 6-0 second-round thrashing which took just 52 minutes. Federer converted on six of seven break points as he played for the first time since his Wimbledon final against Novak Djokovic.
“I was happy, I started well, and that s always helpful to play more freely,” said the winner of his 41st match this season. “I could have served better at times, but I felt I was moving well.
“For the start of a tournament it s never clear if that s going to be the case. I m very relieved and just really pleased.”
It was much more difficult for Australian Open winner Wawrinka, who battled to a 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) victory over Frenchman Benoit Paire. The Swiss saved a match point in the tenth game of the final set and finally advanced with a running volley winner on the first of four match points.
Wawrinka took time away from the game after Wimbledon, skipping the ATP Tour s Gstaad tournament at home due to fatigue.
Federer is playing Canada for the first time since 2011 after winning titles in 2004 and 2006. He is in the hunt for an 80th career trophy. Promising Australian teenager Nick Kyrgios defeated Santiago Giraldo 7-6 (7/3), 7-5 to set up a second-round meeting with Andy Murray.
The Scot has not played since he saw his hopes of defending his Wimbledon title dashed in a quarter-final defeat to Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov. Kyrgios backed up his growing big-match reputation with his 94-minute win over Giraldo coming after the 19-year-old Aussie knocked Spaniard Rafael Nadal out in the fourth round of Wimbledon.
Kyrgios played fearless tennis as he trailed the more experienced Giraldo 5-2 in the opening set, with the wild card winning the opener in a tiebreak. He claimed victory on his third match point in the second set after breaking the South American in the final game. “First match back so I knew it was going to be tough,” said Kyrgios. “I came out a bit flat.” Kyrgios said that taking on Murray would be another huge challenge. “He’s a great player, and I’m just going to go out there and enjoy the experience to get to play another player like that.” —AFP
