ROTTERDAM, 18 February 2005 — World No. 1 Roger Federer handed out a resounding tennis lesson to teenage Swiss compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka yesterday with a 6-1, 6-4 victory to reach the last eight at the 782,250-euro Rotterdam Open.
Federer, attempting to restore his fearsome reputation after an unexpected semifinal setback against Marat Safin at the Australian Open, showed his world number one form in the 64-minute exercise.
Though the 19-year-old Wawrinka threatened by saving two match points, there was never any danger of an upset for the teenager.
Federer still has a few niggles to get right in his game as he failed to sent down a single ace, but while world number 126 Wawrinka fought as much as he could, the outcome was never in doubt.
Thomas Johansson outaced one of the game’s biggest servers in a 6-4, 6-4 upset of fifth-seeded Swedish compatriot Joachim Johansson.
Thomas Johansson, 29, the 2002 Australian Open champion, showed his 22-year-old countryman that power isn’t everything.
Croatian Mario Ancic won his second-round contest against Belgian Olivier Rochus 6-4, 6-3 to reach a last eight place against the winner from a later match between British third seed Tim Henman and France’s Michael Llodra.
Roddick Advances After First Victory Over Clement
In Raleigh, North Carolina, top seed Andy Roddick defeated unseeded Frenchman Arnaud Clement for the first time on Wednesday to advance to the quarterfinals of the Kroger St. Jude championships in Memphis, Tennessee.
Seeking a second consecutive ATP title after taking the San Jose Open last weekend, the American world No. 3 won 6-3, 6-3 in the second-round match, claiming a maiden victory over Clement after two previous defeats.Third seeded Tommy Haas of Germany maintained his good form and broke serve three times en route to a 6-4, 6-4 first-round victory over American qualifier Jeff Salzenstein.
In the WTA event, top seed and defending champion Vera Zvonareva of Russia beat France’s Severine Beltrame 7-6, 6-3 and third-seeded American Meghann Shaughnessy defeated Hana Sromova of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-2 in second-round matches.Promising seventh seed Nicole Vaidisova looked strong in her 6-2, 6-2 second-round win over Puerto Rican Kristina Brandi.
In the quarterfinals, the 15-year-old Czech will play unseeded American Jamea Jackson.
Top Seed Mauresmo Dismisses Pierce
In Brussels, top seed Amelie Mauresmo swept aside French compatriot Mary Pierce 6-4, 6-1 in the second round of the Antwerp Diamond Games tournament yesterday.
Earlier, Australian Alicia Molik, a quarterfinalist last month at the Australian Open where she beat Venus Williams, battled past Bulgarian Magdalena Maleeva 4-6, 6-2, 7-6.
Williams and Belgian favorite Kim Clijsters meet in one of the quarterfinals tonight.
