Federer, Wawrinka move ahead in Toronto Masters

Compatriots follow contrasting routes to third round.

TORONTO: Two-time champion Roger Federer turned on the style but Swiss compatriot Stan Wawrinka had to work much harder to advance at the ATP Toronto Masters.

Second seed Federer showed no mercy against Canadian Peter Polansky in a 6-2, 6-0 second-round thrashing which took just 52 minutes. Federer converted on six of seven break points as he played for the first time since his Wimbledon final against Novak Djokovic.

“I was happy, I started well, and that’s always helpful to play more freely,” said the winner of his 41st match this season. “I could have served better at times, but I felt I was moving well.

“For the start of a tournament it’s never clear if that’s going to be the case. I’m very relieved and really pleased.”

It was much more difficult for Australian Open winner Wawrinka, who battled to a 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) victory over Frenchman Benoit Paire.

The Swiss saved a match point in the tenth game of the final set and finally advanced with a running volley winner on the first of four match points.

Wawrinka took time away from the game after Wimbledon, skipping the ATP Tour’s Gstaad tournament at home due to fatigue.

Promising Kyrgios downs Giraldo

In another match, promising Australian teenager Nick Kyrgios defeated Santiago Giraldo 7-6 (7/3), 7-5 in 94 minutes.

The win backed up Kyrgios’ growing big-match reputation after the 19-year-old Aussie knocked Spaniard Rafael Nadal out in the fourth round of Wimbledon.

“First match back so I knew it was going to be tough,” said Kyrgios. “I came out a bit flat.”

Australian Bernard Tomic was unable to follow Kyrgios as a winner, losing 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (8/6) to Ivo Karlovic as the Croatian took revenge for a loss in the Bogata final last month.

Elsewhere, Italian 16th seed Fabio Fognini beat Mikhail Youzhny 6-4, 6-3, while Spain’s Tommy Robredo stopped German Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 7-6 (7/3).

More action saw two Canadians were eliminated as Donald Young defeated Frank Dancevic 5-7, 6-0, 6-3 and 12th seed Richard Gasquet beat last week’s Washington finalist Vasek Pospisil 7-5, 7-5. Frenchman Gael Monfils beat Radek Stepanek 6-3, 7-5.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 7^th, 2014.

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