Roger Federer continues winning moves into 3rd round in Cincinnati

Canadian Vasek Pospisil pushed Roger Federer to a third set at the Western & Southern Open before falling to the tournament's second seed in Cincinnati on Wednesday.



Federer beat Pospisil 7-6 (4), 5-7, 6-2 in the second-round match on centre court to become the only man to reach 300 wins at the Masters 1000 level.


"It's a nice, round number," Federer said. "I've had some more important ones over the one today. Nevertheless, it's nice to reach such milestones."


The Swiss star didn't take control until the middle of the third set, when he broke Pospisil twice for a 4-1 lead. Both players were sloppy in the breezy conditions.


"You just hope to get through the first match in tough conditions," Federer said. "It's important to stay calm even though it's frustrating for much of the match."



The Swiss star, third in the ATP world rankings, is coming off an appearance in the finals of the Rogers Cup in Toronto. Federer lost that match to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.



Pospisil beat Radek Stepanek in the first round in Cincinnati a week after losing his opening match at the Rogers Cup. He had 33 winners and 37 unforced errors against Federer.



Pospisil played tough against Federer, forcing a tiebreaker that he ultimately lost on a forehand error. Pospisil secured the second set whenFederer missed on a forehand cross-court.



The third set was all Federer, with Pospisil broken twice on the way to the loss.


Men's No. 5 seed Milos Raonic of Thornhill, Ont., is in action later Wednesday against American Robby Ginepri. Women's seventh seed Eugenie Bouchard of Westmount, Que., plays Svetlana Kuznetsova.



Elsewhere Wednesday, top-seeded Serena Williams won an opening match that was as close as it gets, rallying in both tiebreakers to move on.



Williams needed an hour and 54 minutes to beat Samantha Stosur 7-6 (7), 7-6 (7) on Wednesday, showing a little more poise on the toughest points.


"It's good when you play a lot of close matches and you come out on top — I'm defeated, I'm down and I come back and win," she said. "That's very good."



Most of the top players advanced, though not without a struggle.




Andy Murray took little more than an hour to beat Joao Sousa 6-3, 6-3. John Isner, who reached the finals last year, also advanced with a solid 6-3, 7-6 (1) victory over Marinko Matosevic.


Murray is still trying to get back into form from back surgery last September. He also made a break with coach Ivan Lendl in March that was a big adjustment.


"It's been a tough year," Murray said. "There have been a few things happen. Obviously coming back from surgery is hard. To me now, that isn't in any way an excuse. Now I have had enough time to get over it. Obviously with Ivan, that was also tough."


No. 4 Tomas Berdych converted only one break point while losing to Yen-Hsun Lu 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.


There was an upset in the women's draw. Third-seeded Petra Kvitova had trouble with her serve and lost to Elina Svitolina 6-2, 7-6 (2). Kvitova had nine double-faults and made just 52 per cent of her first serves.


Aga Radwanska continued winning as well, she advanced easily into her next round :)


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