ROTTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) ― Top-seeded Roger Federer easily beat Nicolas Mahut 6-4, 6-4 in the first round Wednesday to sail straight into the quarterfinals of the ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament.
Federer’s second-round opponent Mikhail Youzhny withdrew with a foot injury, giving the Swiss star a place in the last eight.
The 16-time Grand Slam winner will face Jarkko Nieminen, who overcame Lukasz Kubot 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (2).
Federer is making his first appearance in Rotterdam since 2005, and said “it’s nice to be back.”
Roger Federer celebrates after winning a point against Nicolas Mahut. (Xinhua-Yonhap News)
Second-seeded Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic hit 10 aces to beat countryman Lukas Rosol 6-4 6-2 and earn a spot in the second round.
Third-seeded Juan Martin Del Potro, who is making his Rotterdam debut, beat 2008 champion Michael Llodra 6-4 6-7 (3) 6-4.
Qatar Open Caroline Wozniacki failed to convert three match points and lost to Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (3) in her opening match at the Qatar Open on Wednesday.
Wozniacki, playing her first match since losing the No. 1 ranking after the Australian Open, received a bye into the second round. She had all three match points in the 10th game of the third set.
Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka, in her first match ranked No. 1, dispatched Mona Barthel of Germany 6-1, 6-0.
Brazil Open Sixth-seeded Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain lost to Leonardo Mayer of Argentina 7-6 (6), 6-2 in the first round of the Brazil Open on Wednesday.
Mayer broke Ferrero twice in the second set and saved all five break points he faced to win the match in nearly two hours at the Ibirapuera sporting complex.
The 24-year-old Mayer, ranked 80th in the world, also took advantage of 11 aces, including eight in the first set.
koreaherald@heraldcorp.com
