Thursday, October 18, 2007

FEDERER BEATS CANAS AT LAST


Roger Federer forgot about his recent history with Guillermo Canas, defeating the 14th-ranked Argentine 6-0, 6-3 Thursday in the third round of the Madrid Masters.

Canas, who beat Federer in consecutive tournaments in March, was broken at love in the second game. Two more breaks of serve gave Federer the first set in 21 minutes.

Canas held serve for 1-1 in the second set. But Federer, the defending champion, abandoned the ground strokes and came to the net. He scored 14 of his 17 overall winners at the net in the second set.

Federer broke Canas again in the sixth game before holding serve for the rest of the way.

In the quarterfinals, Federer will play the winner between Spanish wild card Feliciano Lopez and Austrian qualifier Stefan Koubek.

Earlier, fifth-seeded Fernando Gonzalez of Chile defeated Juan Monaco of Argentina 6-4, 6-2.

Third-ranked Novak Djokovic beat Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 to advance to the quarterfinals. Djokovic will play Mario Ancic, who beat Paul-Henri Mathieu of France 6-4, 6-3.

``I haven't played so far on the level that I can, but the most important thing is that I won,'' Djokovic said.

Ferrero's last title was the 2003 Madrid Masters, a stretch of 88 tournaments.

Djokovic had the decisive break in the eighth game before clinching the first set with one of his five aces in the next game.

Djokovic failed to convert any of five break points in the first game of the second set and Ferrero broke in the next game. Ferrero, who saved five break points overall in the set, got to Djokovic's drop shot and tapped it past him for a second break in the eighth game to even the match.

He broke Ferrero to lead 2-0 in the third set and maintained that advantage to close it out.

``It's been a long year and I've played a lot of matches. And, maybe in some stages, physically and mentally I don't look so effective,'' Djokovic said.

Nadal will play 17th-ranked Andy Murray, who has cruised past his first two opponents.

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