Top seeds reaches third round at Cincinnati

Top seeds reaches third round at Cincinnati

WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 -- World number one Roger Federer advanced into the third round of the Cincinnati Masters on Wednesday.


Roger Federer of Switzerland pumps his fist after a shot against Jose Acasuso of Argentina during their second round match at the Cincinnati Masters tennis tournament August 19, 2009.


The Swiss ace sailed to a 6-3, 7-5 win over Argentine Jose Acasuso to set up a meeting with Spaniard David Ferrer for a place in the quarterfinals.

Federer became father of twin girls last month.

Briton Andy Murray, just rising to the world number two place, topped Spaniard Nicolas Almagro 7-6, 6-2. He saved a set point at6-5 down before easing through the second set to secure a meeting with Czech Radek Stepanek, a 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 winner over Russian Marat Safin.

Third ranked Rafael Nadal, in his second tournament after coming back from his knee injury, also progressed, moving past Italian Andreas Seppi 7-6, 7-6.


Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a return to Andreas Seppi of Italy during their second round match at the Cincinnati Masters tennis tournament in Cincinnati, August 19, 2009.

World number four Novak Djokovic of Serbia eased past Ivan Ljubicic 7-6 6-4, despite 15 aces from the Croatian to book a meeting with Jeremy Chardy of France.

But world number five Andy Roddick suffered a setback in his preparation for the U.S. Open with his 7-6, 7-6 defeat to fellow American Sam Querrey in the night match.

Querrey next faces Australian Lleyton Hewitt who beat Benjamin Becker 6-3, 6-3.

Seventh-seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who upset Federer in the quarter-finals of the Montreal Masters last week, was dispatched 7-6, 6-2 by Australian qualifier Chris Guccione.

He lost an epic first-set tiebreak 14-12 against the big-serving Australian, ranked 124th, who saved five set points and clinched victory with his 20th ace to set up a clash with Czech Tomas Berdych

Paul-Henri Mathieu set up a meeting with Nadal by beating Ivo Karlovic of Croatia 7-6, 6-4, while Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain ousted Russian Mikhail Youzhny.

Garcia-Lopez will play Frenchman Julien Benneteau, who became the first lucky loser to reach the last 16 in Cincinnati since 2004 by beating Austrian Juergen Melzer 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.
(Xinhua)