Federer opens with comfortable win as Murray crashes
Monday, 29 March 2010
MIAMI, Mar 28 (AFP): Roger Federer preserved dignity among the elite at the Miami Masters Saturday, earning a comfortable opening victory after world number three Andy Murray crashed out to unheralded Mardy Fish.
World number one and top seed Federer quietly dominated Nicolas Lapentti, vanquishing the Ecuadoran 6-3, 6-3 in 66 minutes.
But it was another story for Murray, who fell 6-4, 6-4 to the 101st- ranked Fish.
Federer is the sole survivor of the top three as Murray's early exit followed that of second-seeded Serbian Novak Djokovic Friday.
Federer lined up a third-round clash with Frenchman Florent Serra, a 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 winner over Spain's Albert Montanes.
Two breaks of Lapentti were enough to insure the Swiss world number one a 12th victory this season.
Federer is beginning a bid for a third Miami title after winning here in 2005 and 2006.
Swedish fifth seed Robin Soderling, the French Open runner-up, progressed to the third round with a 7-6 (7/5), 6-0 win over Australian Peter Luczak.
Croatian number seven Marin Cilic accounted for Stephane Robert of France 6-3, 6-1.
Spain's 10th seed Fernando Verdasco saw off Israel's Dudi Sela 6-1, 6-2 while 13th-seeded Russian Mikhail Youzhny eased past Santiago Giraldo of Colombia 6-0, 6-1.
World number one and top seed Federer quietly dominated Nicolas Lapentti, vanquishing the Ecuadoran 6-3, 6-3 in 66 minutes.
But it was another story for Murray, who fell 6-4, 6-4 to the 101st- ranked Fish.
Federer is the sole survivor of the top three as Murray's early exit followed that of second-seeded Serbian Novak Djokovic Friday.
Federer lined up a third-round clash with Frenchman Florent Serra, a 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 winner over Spain's Albert Montanes.
Two breaks of Lapentti were enough to insure the Swiss world number one a 12th victory this season.
Federer is beginning a bid for a third Miami title after winning here in 2005 and 2006.
Swedish fifth seed Robin Soderling, the French Open runner-up, progressed to the third round with a 7-6 (7/5), 6-0 win over Australian Peter Luczak.
Croatian number seven Marin Cilic accounted for Stephane Robert of France 6-3, 6-1.
Spain's 10th seed Fernando Verdasco saw off Israel's Dudi Sela 6-1, 6-2 while 13th-seeded Russian Mikhail Youzhny eased past Santiago Giraldo of Colombia 6-0, 6-1.