Top-seeded Swiss Roger Federer, playing for the first time since he captured a fourth straight Wimbledon title, picked up where he left off on Tuesday with a first-round victory in the Toronto Masters Series.
Federer eliminated France’s Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-3, 6-4, while second-seeded Spaniard Rafael Nadal, also playing for the first time since falling to Federer in the England final, defeated Chile’s Nicolas Massu 6-3, 6-2.
Of the world’s leading pair, Federer was the more impressive. He needed just one hour and 15 minutes to overcome Mathieu, his powerful service game showing no sign of rust.
”I was very happy,” Federer said. ”I was happy with my serve, my forehand, my backhand. Everything worked pretty well. I think I can just improve the movement a little bit. I have to get used to the pace and everything, the playing points. But all in all, that was an awesome match for a first round.”
Under the circumstances, Mathieu — a semifinalist in this event last year when it was held in Montreal — could offer little resistance.
One break per set was enough for Federer to stay on a course that next pits him against another Frenchman, Sebastien Grosjean.
Nadal, the reigning French Open champion and the defending champion here, found the going a bit more difficult and he was pleased to come through a potentially tricky first-rounder against the double Olympic champion.
”When I saw the draw, I said it’s not an easy match,” Nadal said. ”But if I win, it’s going to be important because I’m going to run, I’m going to put a lot of balls in because Massu is a clay-court player too. It’s important for the rhythm.”
”After one month, it’s difficult to get the rhythm,” Nadal added. ”The important thing is to win, and I won, so I am happy for that.”
Belgian Xavier Malisse fashioned the first upset of the day, ousting sixth-seeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko 6-3, 7-5.
Seventh-seeded Spaniard Tommy Robredo sent Davydenko’s compatriot Marat Safin, a former world number one, packing, 7-5, 5-7, 6-2 victory.
Germany’s Tommy Haas, seeking to build on his victory in the Los Angeles ATP tournament two weeks ago, beat Max Mirnyi of Belarus 6-3, 6-3.
Haas’s compatriot Denis Gremelmayr, who failed to make it through qualifying, was inserted into the draw as a lucky loser on Tuesday morning, replacing eighth-seeded Czech Radek Stepanek. Gremelmayr, ranked 117th in the world, made the most of his opportunity, beating Belgian Kristolv Vliegen 7-6 (7/2), 6-2.
Britain’s Andy Murray continued his strong play with a 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) upset of number 12 David Ferrer of Spain. Murray reached the final of last week’s event in Washington in his first tournament under new coach Brad Gilbert.
After winning nine straight games to open a 5-0 lead in the second set, Murray allowed Ferrer to battle back and force a tiebreaker. However, Ferrer — who saved three earlier match points — double-faulted to give Murray the match.
”Outplaying him until 6-2, 5-love, I thought was very good,” Murray said. ”Then I had match point at 5-Love. I had match point at 5-1. I got to 30 in all of the games … I just didn’t win any of them.”
Murray (19) next faces fellow Brit Tim Henman for the second time. He won last year’s first encounter at Basel.
French lucky loser Nicolas Mahut couldn’t capitalise on his chance. A quarterfinalist at Indianapolis in July, Mahut was dominated 6-3, 6-3 by Czech qualifier Jan Hernych.
Hernych booked a shot at Italian Davide Sanguinetti, who upset ailing third seed David Nalbandian of Argentina on Monday. — Sapa-AFP