AN ATP MASTERS SERIES EVENT
11th - 19th OCTOBER
MMMM 2007 : 2007
MONTECARLO: FEDERER WINS
Roger Federer worked hard to defeat Italian qualifier Andreas Seppi
|
www.montecarlo.masters-series.com. ATP World No. 1 Roger Federer worked harder than expected in his first clay court match of 2007, defeating Italian qualifier Andreas Seppi 7-6(4), 7-6(6) to reach the third round of Masters Series Monte-Carlo Tuesday. Federer surrendered a break of serve in both sets before winning in tie-breaks. In the second-set Federer let slip two match points at 6/4 in the tie-break before closing out the match. Federer, who in 2006 lost to Rafael Nadal in the Monte-Carlo final, improved to a 15-2 record on the year. After winning four ATP Masters Series titles each year for the past two years, Federer is searching for his first Masters Series shield of 2007 following surprise early-round defeats in Indian Wells and Miami. Fast-rising Serb teen Novak Djokovic extended his winning streak to eight matches when he defeated former Roland Garros champion Gaston Gaudio 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 at Masters Series Monte-Carlo Wednesday. Djokovic, who reached back-to-back Masters Series finals in Indian Wells and Miami (where he won the title), has won 13 of his past 14 matches. Later on Wednesday two-time defending champion Rafael Nadal will put his Open Era record 62-match clay-court winning streak on the line against Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela in second round action. And Frenchman Richard Gasquet, who toiled for 3 hrs., 20 mins. to beat Fernando Verdasco Tuesday, plays his second-round match against Dominik Hrbaty. |