TENNIS – Roger Federer made a winning start to his Roland Garros campaign with a 6-3 6-3 6-4 win over Alejandro Falla in one hour and 49 minutes on the Philippe Chatrier court in Paris. The other top-ranked Swiss player, Stan Wawrinka, also had a comfortable start beating Marsel Ihlan with 6-3 6-2 6-3 Diego Sampaolo
Falla, who in past has posed a very tough challenge for the World’s No.2 Federer despite the fact that the Colombian has never beaten the Swiss legend in their 7 previous meetings. There most notable encounter was at Wimbledon 2010 when Falla led 2 sets to love and served for the match in the fourth set. He was a mere 4 points away from sending the then defending champion Federer packing in the 1st round. However, Federer pulled through in that match as he did again in last year’s Halle final where Falla again presented himself as a formidable opponent.
This match would be no different as Falla started well earning an early break point chance but Federer saved it to stay ahead at 2-1. The 2009 Roland Garros champion held his serve at love for 4-3 before earning break point chances on the Falla serve. Falla saved the first three but Federer finally able to convert as the Colombian made two unforced errors allowing Federer to serve out the opening set 6-3. The momentum carried over into the 2nd set for the Swiss as broke Falla early in the third game for 2-1 before sealing the second set breaking Falla again to take it 6-3.
In the 3rd set, Falla was once again under pressure when he had to save three break points before holding his serve in the early part of the set. Federer faced a single break point but he held serve to maintain his lead at 3-2. Things remained on serve until Falla was serving to stay in the match down 4-5. Federer broke him for a fourth time to take the match 6-3 6-3 6-4.
Federer had 42 winners, including 8 aces and converted on four of his 15 break point chances. Federer extended his winning streak to 8-0 over Falla who was a Lucky Loser into the main draw this year as he lost in the last round of qualification on Friday. In the next round, Federer will face Marcel Granollers who beat Matthias Bachinger 6-4 6-3 7-6(7) to advance.
Federer’s compatriot Stan Wawrinka (8) beat Marsel Ihlan 6-3 6-2 6-3. Wawrinka held his serve after a tough opening game. Ilhan had four early break points but failed to convert any of them as they remained on serve until Wawrinka edged ahead 3-2. The Swiss No. 2 got his first break point in the 6th game. He converted and consolidated the break by holding serve for 5-2. Ilhan was able to hold serve in the next game but was unable to recover the break as Wawrinka closed out the set at 6-3.
Wawrinka got the early break in the first game of the second set and earned the double break in the 5th game for 4-1. Wawrinka earned another break point up 5-1 but Ilhan saved it. Wawrinka had no problems taking a 2-0 sets lead over Ilhan 6-3 6-2. Last year, Wawrinka lost in the first round to Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in 4 sets. This year, his French Open campaign opener was far easier as he raced out to a 3-1 lead in the 3rd set. Ilhan earned himself a 6th break point in the 8th game but as with the other 5, he was unable to convert as Wawrinka held serve for 5-3. Wawrinka then broke Ilhan again to take the match 6-3 6-2 6-3.
Kei Nishikori (5) beat Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-3 7-5 6-1 already improving on last year’s result when he was knocked out in the 1st round by Martin Klizan. The Japanese player converted 7 of his 15 break point chances. After two tight games to open the match, Nishikori got the first break of the match in the 1st set en route to winning it 6-3. Nishikori went up an early break in the 2nd set but Mathieu reeled off three consecutive games to level it. However, Nishikori would not be denied the set and quickly took back the momentum by taking the set 7-5 and a commanding lead up 2-0 sets. In the 3rd set, both Mathieu and his home crowd were deflated as Nishikori cruised through it 6-1 to take the match in straight sets.
It was not all disappointment for the Frenchmen on this day as both wildcard Nicolas Mahut and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (14) won their matches in relative ease. Mahut took out Kimmer Coppejans 6-3 6-4 7-6 and Tsonga beat Christian Lindell 6-1 6-2 6-2. Ernests Gulbis (24) who is having a most dismal year is looking to defend the semifinal points he earned here last year and is 4 matches away from doing so as he won over Igor Sijsling 6-4 6-4 7-6 to get to the next round.
Other winners on the day include Roberto Bautista Agut (19) beat Florian Mayer 6-3 6-1 6-3 setting up a second round encounter against Lukas Rosol who beat Swedish rising star qualifier Elias Yimer 6-2 7-6(7) 6-3. Philipp Kohlschreiber (22), who last year lost a marathon 3rd round match 12-10 in the 5th set against Andy Murray, eased past Go Soeda of Japan 6-1 6-0 6-2. Dudi Sela, Dusan Lajovic and Pablo Andujar also moved through to the 2nd round. Damir Dzumhur was able to get to the next round when after being up 2-0 sets, Mikhail Youzhny retired from the match.
There were two minor upsets on the day, American Steve Johnson taking out the 26th seed Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-3 6-3 6-7 3-6 6-3 and Marcos Baghdatis knocked out Ivo Karlovic (25) 7-6 6-4 6-4.
