Second seed Roger Federer will square off against a familar foe at a Grand Slam event after cruising through his second round match at Roland Garros Wednesday.
In brushing aside qualifier Somdev Devvarman 6-2, 6-1, 6-1, Federer set a third-round clash with 30th-seeded Frenchman Julien Benneteau, the man who nearly eliminated the Swiss superstar in the round of 32 at Wimbledon just a year ago.
Benneteau won the first two sets, but failed to close out the eventual champion, having been within two points of victory on six occasions. Federer then won a re-match in convincing fashion at the London 2012 Olympics, but Benneteau made the latest statement, ousting Federer in Rotterdam this year.
Against Devarrman, Federer broke the Indian to begin the match, and never looked back, capitalising on seven of his 14 break point opportunities. Federer was equally as effective on serve with a 74 per cent success rate. The World No. 3 finished off Devarrman in 82 minutes to improve to 2-0 in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series.
With the win, Federer secured his 898th tour-level victory. Only three players in the Open Era have won 900 matches. The 31-year-old Federer is the only active player other than seven-time champion Rafael Nadal to triumph at the second major tournament of the season in Paris, having lifted the trophy in 2009 (d. Soderling).
Benneteau blew a two-set lead against Tobias Kamke, but prevailed over the German 7-6(9), 7-5, 5-7, 0-6, 6-4 despite winning nine fewer points in the match. Benneteau reached the third round at his home major for the fifth time, with his best result coming in 2006 when he advanced to the quarter-finals. Federer has won four of their six meetings and took their fourth-round encounter at Roland Garros in 2008.
Could be the first real test for Federer. Already biting my nails.
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