Tennis: Federer wins in Rotterdam

ROTTERDAM: Roger Federer swept aside Nicolas Mahut, winning 13 of the last 14 points in a 6-4, 6-4 victory at the Rotterdam Open. The world number three and top-seed then got an unexpected bonus as his scheduled second-round opponent Mikhail Youzhny of Russia withdrew with a foot problem sending the Swiss straight into the quarter-finals and a date with Jarkko Nieminen today. “Any win is a good win,” said Federer. “I had to get used to the conditions quickly. I came through well, Nicolas is a tough player.” Tomas Berdych overpowered his Lukas Rosol 6-4, 6-2, while third-seed Juan Del Potro defeated Michael Llodra 6-4, 6-7, 6-4.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 17^th, 2012.