PARIS: Andy Murray turned in a clinical performance yesterday as he joined Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka, David Ferrer, Grigor Dimitrov and Milos Raonic in the third round of the Paris Masters.
The two-time Grand Slam winner, who was absent in Paris last year afer undergoing back surgery, overcame the challenge of French world number 28 Julien Benneteau and advanced to the last 16, 6-3, 6-4.
“It’s a lot easier here to finish points than it was last week (in Valencia), the court is a bit quicker, lower bouncing, so you can come into the net a bit as well,” said Murray following his victory.
The 27-year-old Scot will now meet Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, who crushed Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay 6-0, 6-3, for a place in the quarter-finals.
Federer, the 2011 Paris champion, showed nerves of steel as he saved four sets points in the opening frame before wearing down plucky Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (5/7), 6-4.
The Swiss world number two was pushed all the way by Chardy, and had two match points in the second set, before eventually grinding down his opponent.
The 17-time Grand Slam winner leaned on his wealth of experience as Chardy, the world number 30, produced some inspired tennis in front of a raucous Bercy crowd.
“It was a very, very difficult match,” said Federer.
“I had two match points in the second set and was a bit worried but I tried to keep coming forward and I’m very, very satisfied.
“He’s got a great forehand and a great serve but I played well and I’m very happy, albeit a bit tired.” added Federer.
If Murray, who won his third tournament of the season at Valencia on Sunday, wins his next match he will guarantee qualification for the Finals in London.
“I put in a lot of hard work the last few weeks, played a lot of tough, long matches,” continued Murray.
“And, yeah, if I get in to London I deserve to be there, because it’s your results across the whole year.
“My results in most of the big tournaments this year have been good enough to be in the top eight.
“I have won more matches than most of the players in the slams, maybe one or two other guys, Roger (Federer) and Novak (Djokovic) might be the only ones to have won more.” he added.
Also on Wednesday, world number four Wawrinka snapped a three-game losing streak as he qualified for the third round with a 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) victory over Dominic Thiem.
“I’m trying to find my confidence, I have some victories but I know that my level of game is there. What I still miss is winning matches,” said Wawrinka.
Former champion and fourth seed Ferrer also advanced as he subdued the talents of rising Belgian star David Goffin 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 to set up an all-Spanish third round tie against Fernando Verdasco.
Another Spaniard, 12th seed Feliciano Lopez also turned in a polished showing as he booked a third round match against Czech fifth seed Tomas Berdych by beating American qualifier Sam Querrey 6-4, 6-4.
Canada’s Raonic kept alive his chances of qualifying for the World Tour Finals with a tough three-set win over American qualifier Jack Sock.
He scraped through against world number 44 Sock, 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (7/4) in just over two hours.
Awaiting Raonic in the third round will be Roberto Bautista-Agut, who knocked out Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-2.
Japanese sixth seed Kei Nishikori will take on Spanish veteran Tommy Robredo later in the day while Frenchmen Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils are in action against Austrian Jurgen Melzer and American John Isner respectively.
Meanwhile, World number one Novak Djokovic celebrated his return to competition since becoming a father last week with a ruthless 6-3, 6-4 second round victory over Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber on Tuesday night.
The 27-year-old defending champion showed the flashes of brilliance, that has seen him win seven Grand Slams, on the way to a third round meeting against either American 13th seed John Isner or French crowd-pleaser Gael Monfils.
The Serbian, whose wife Jelena gave birth to a baby boy Stefan on October 21 and is chasing a third title in Paris, secured early breaks in both sets to lay the foundations for his victory.
“It was very, very good because it’s not easy, the first match and being indoors, so I’m very happy,” said Djokovic.
“I still don’t quite feel 100 per cent physically and the court threw up a lot of high bounces but I played a quality match and was very concentrated.
“It’s incredible to be a father and I dedicate this victory to my wife Jelena and Stefan.
“I’m very proud to be a father and I’m very proud of my wife for handling the birth in a great way. She’s back home recovering now, with our little boy.
“This was my first match as a father and it can only inspire me to play my best tennis,” he added.
AFP
