MONTE-CARLO ROLEX MASTERS TENNIS – ROGER FEDERER RETURNS WITH A WIN, BEATING GARCIA-LOPEZ & MORE BY RICKY DIMON

Written by: Staff on 12th April 2016

MONTE-CARLO ROLEX MASTERS TENNIS - ROGER FEDERER RETURNS WITH A WIN, BEATING GARCIA-LOPEZ & MORE BY RICKY DIMON

epa05255654 Roger Federer (bottom) of Switzerland serves the ball to Guillermo Garcia Lopez of Spain during their second round match at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters tennis tournament in Roquebrune Cap Martin, France, 12 April 2016. EPA/SEBASTIEN NOGIER |

In his first appearance since the Australian Open, Roger Federer cruised past Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-3, 6-4 in round two of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters on Tuesday afternoon. Federer converted three of four break points to advance in one hour and 14 minutes.

After falling to Novak Djokovic in the semifinals in Melbourne, Federer was expected to play in Rotterdam and Dubai the following month. A minor knee injury derailed those plans, prompting Federer to show up in Miami. Just before a scheduled opening showdown with Juan Martin Del Potro, the 34-year-old Swiss got hit by an illness and had to withdraw.

Despite having not played a competitive match in more than two months, Federer showed few signs of rust. The 17-time Grand Slam champion finished with almost the same number of winners (23) as unforced errors (25), an especially solid ratio on clay. He struck more than double the amount of winners as Garcia-Lopez (10).

Federer took control by breaking at 3-2 in the first set when Garcia-Lopez sent a backhand well past the baseline. The 38th-ranked Spaniard had two break-back chances in the next game but could not convert. A love hold by Federer at 5-3 wrapped up the opener in style.

Federer’s lone hiccup came just prior to the finish line. From out of nowhere, Garcia-Lopez seized a love break with his opponent serving for the match at 5-2. The underdog held to get within 5-4, but Federer made no mistake with victory on his racket a second time. He converted match point at 40-30 thanks to punishing down-the-line backhand.

Roger Federer of Switzerland returns the ball to Guillermo Garcia Lopez of Spain during their second round match at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters tennis tournament in Roquebrune Cap Martin, France, 12 April 2016. EPA/SEBASTIEN NOGIER

“The knee felt really good,” Federer assured. “(It) felt like I didn’t have to worry about it. I could just go freely. It’s been like that for at least, I’d say, over a week now. I was very pleased how I felt–even how I played…. I think in a way it was a perfect match.”

Next up for the No. 3 seed on Thursday is either Roberto Bautista Agut or Jeremy Chardy.