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| The Swiss star Roger Federer, who celebrated his 36th birthday on Tuesday, swatted aside Canada's Peter Polansky. |
A rejuvenated Roger Federer believes he is still reaping the benefits of
his extended break from tennis after a comfortable opening victory at the ATP
Montreal Masters gave him his best start to a season since 2006.
The Swiss star, who celebrated his 36th birthday on Tuesday, swatted
aside Canada's world number 116 Peter Polansky 6-2, 6-1 in just 53 minutes to
book his place in the second round.
Federer was joined in the last 16 by top seed and old adversary Rafael
Nadal, who made similary short work of his opening assignment.
Nadal, who will depose the absent Andy Murray as world number one if he
reaches the semi-finals in Montreal this week, routed Croatian youngster Borna
Coric 6-1, 6-2.
Federer is riding high after a spectacular year which has netted him
both the Australian Open and Wimbledon crowns.
On Wednesday's evidence, few would bet against him adding the US Open to
that haul after a masterful performance that left Polansky groping at shadows.
A one-sided win gave him a 32-2 start to the season, his best beginning
to a campaign since 2006 when he began 38-2 and finished the year at world
number one.
Federer attributed his renaissance to rediscovering full fitness after
knee surgery in 2016 and taking a two-month break from the game earlier this
year.
"I guess for me the key is that I'm actually healthy," Federer
said.
"I knew that when I was healthy, I was going to be able to have
chances to win slams again, to play against the best, beat the best.
"That's also reasons why I'm still playing today. If I felt like I
couldn't do all these things, it would not be enjoyable or I wouldn't be doing
it any more.
"I think the belief was always there. The body always needed to be
there, too. I think the break just rejuvenated me ... I came in refreshed. It
was a different mindset."
- Monfils thriller -
Federer took control immediately against Polansky, holding his opening
service game comfortably before quickly going 0-40 up in the second game.
A Polansky double fault gave Federer the break and the Swiss was soon
3-0 up after holding serve to love in the next game.
Polansky held his next two service games but never looked like breaking
Federer's serve as the veteran moved into a 5-2 lead.
Federer then broke Polansky to take the first set, following a signature
backhand with a deft forehand volley that left the 29-year-old Canadian
scrambling.
Federer was soon in control in the second set, scoring an early break
and holding twice to move 3-0 up before a further break made it 4-0.
Polansky earned a stay of execution after holding serve in the sixth
game to make it 5-1, but Federer raced into the next round with a comfortable
hold, finishing with an emphatic overhead smash.
Federer will face Spain's David Ferrer in the third round. Ferrer upset
15th seed Jack Sock 7-6 (9/7), 3-6, 6-1.
Elsewhere Wednesday, France's Gael Monfils saved four match points
before digging deep to defeat Japanese fifth seed Kei Nishikori in an
attritional three-set duel.
Monfils prevailed 6-7 (4/7), 7-5, 7-6 (8/6) to advance.
There was almost another French Houdini act in the evening session, when
Richard Gasquet fought back from triple match point down to earn three match
points in the final set of his duel with Germany's Alexander Zverev.
Fourth-seed Zverev however fought back brilliantly to claim victory in a
tiebreak, winning 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7/3).
Zverev will now face Australia's Nick Kyrgios
in the last 16. Kyrgios swatted aside Victor Troicki 6-1, 6-2.
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