Top seed Roger Federer and number four Ivan Ljubicic swept through into the third round while American James Blake fell flat to exit on an off-day at the Toronto Masters on Wednesday.
Federer, playing his first event since defeating Rafael Nadal for his fourth straight Wimbledon title a month ago, rolled over Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean 6-3, 6-3. The Swiss took just 67 minutes to dominate, breaking four times and losing just one serve.
Federer, who turned 25 on Tuesday, extended his North American hard-court win streak to 50 matches, last losing in Cincinnati two years ago. During that streak, he’s claimed eight titles, improving to 59-4 this season.
The 28-year-old Grosjean hasn’t won more than two matches at a tournament since he made it to the semifinals of Marseille in February.
”I had very, very good patches where I played very good tennis,” said Federer, winner of six titles this season. ”He’s a tough player. He’s a veteran, he knows how to play. He reads the game very well and he’s quick, so I had to play a good match today.”
Ljubicic accounted for another Frenchman, putting out last weekend’s Washington trophy-holder Arnaud Clement 7-6 (8-6), 6-4.
But Richard Gasquet got Gallic revenge as he plowed past a struggling Blake 6-4, 6-3.
The victory against the world number six in just 73 minutes was the second career win over a top-10 opponent for the 20-year-old Gasquet.
Coming into the contest, he stood 1-13 against elite opponents, with his only other win against a big name earned in last year’s Monte Carlo quarterfinals over Roger Federer.
”It’s a great performance because I beat him here, not on a clay court,” said Gasquet. ”I played a fantastic match and I’m really, really happy to win.
”Today I played good, I felt my strokes well. I served good. My backhand really made a difference.”
The match against Blake featured 10 breaks of serve with the American seed looking well off the boil.
”I don’t know what there is to explain,” said the highest-ranked American and only one in the top 10. ”It was just one of those days.
”A lot of my shots weren’t going in. When they were going in, I was giving him opportunities to come up with good shots and he did. If I don’t have my best tennis, you are going to lose to a player like that.”
The defeat was a letdown after Blake won his third ATP title of the year three weeks ago in Indianapolis over Andy Roddick.
Another seed tumbled out as Argentine Davis Cup player Jose Acasuso put out Spain’s seventh seed Tommy Robredo 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Number 15 Fernando Gonzalez of Chile was untested as he dispatched former number one Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-2, 6-1.
In other results, Belgian Xavier Malisse continued the misery this season for Paradorn Srichaphan, his 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 win dropping the Thai to 17-20 on the season.
Former world number one Carlos Moya defeated German Denis Gremelmayr 6-1, 6-4, lining up a match with Brit Andy Murray, who beat veteran compatriot Tim Henman 6-2, 7-6 (7-3). — Sapa-dpa