Federer finds the answer as Roddick, Sharapova advance

By Bill Scott Mar 26, 2006, 14:30 GMT

Roger Federer of Switzerland returns the ball to Arnaud Clement of France during their second round match at the the NASDAQ-100 Open on Key Biscayne, Florida, Saturday, 25 March 2006. EPA/RHONA WISE

Miami - Roger Federer got a wakeup call as he let a tiebreak lead slip away, regaining his trademark composure for a 6-2, 6-7 (4-7) 6-0 defeat of Arnaud Clement Saturday to reach the third round of the 6.9-million-dollar Miami Masters.

The holder was motoring, up a set and 4-0 in the tiebreaker, when the French danger-man came to life, reeling off seven straight points to bring on a third set.

Federer, 22-1 on the season coming in and seeking a fourth trophy from five events in 2006, got his game into gear as he finally swept through.

The tiebreak setback was the first for Federer in nine deciders played this season.

In late matches, women's fourth seed Maria Sharapova, debuting a new outfit sure to spark huge sales, overcame Na Li of China, 6-2, 6-4

Former winner Andy Roddick regained match confidence after a modest start to 2006, overwhelming Spain's Alberto Martin 6-3, 6-1.

The fourth seed, who didn't face a break point, improved to 12-5 this season at an event he won two years ago.

Federer will next face Germany's former world number 2 Tommy Haas who crushed Peru's Luis Horna 6-0, 6-3.

Haas, winner of two titles in 2006, could present problems. 'He's coming back strong,' said Federer. 'It will be tough for me. I have to watch out.'

Federer also played his first match using the HawkEye electronic linecalling system, which went offline for a moment of two in the heat of battle - though it was quickly restored,

'We have umpires and linesmen to call the scores and see the mistakes,' said the tennis traditionalist. 'I'm neutral, I want to see how it works out over time.'

Against Haas, Federer will want to lower his error count, which reached 37 against Clement against only 30 winners.

Briton Tim Henman earned his first victory after eight career losses to Lleyton Hewitt, knocking off his second former world number 1 player in a row to advance.

The unseeded Briton reversed his fortunes with a 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 second-round win played in bothersome wind. It took just under two hours for Henman to knock out the 13th seed.

In the first round, he knocked out the formerly top-ranked Russian Marat Safin in a rain-delayed match which began after midnight.

'Tim beating Marat the other night, that gives him a lot of confidence, beating a guy who's one of the best ball strikers out there,' said Hewitt.

'I wasn't expecting too much different to what he did. He just executed a lot better than I did today.'

Hewitt had dominated from the start of a series against Henman which began in 2000 and featured its last instalment two years ago in Cincinnati.

Henman plunged Hewitt into a deeper career trough, with the Australian's last title coming in January, 2005. Hewitt played and lost back-to-back finals this year in the US, going down in San Jose to Andy Murray and Las Vegas against James Blake.

Ninth seed James Blake, losing finalist last weekend to Roger Federer at Indian Wells, roared off to a 6-0, 6-0 result over Argentine Carlos Berlocq.

Spain's 13th-seeded Juan Carlos Ferrero, another former number 1 who has fallen on hard times, was eliminated in his opening match after a bye as he lost to Russian Dmitry Tursunov 6-3, 7-6.

Defending champion Kim Clijsters stumbled as she competed for the first time in a month, losing to American Jill Craybas 7-5, 3-6, 7-5..

Belgian second seed Clijsters, one year removed from a double March triumph in North America with back-to-back titles at Indian Wells and Miami in 2005, was humbled by 78 unforced errors in the two hour, 15 minute letdown.

'I wasn't consistent out there had trouble finishing off the points,' said Clijsters, a former world number 1 who first hurt her right ankle and retired in an Australian Open semi-final.

She then attempted an early comeback a few weeks later and lost the final at Antwerp to Amelie Mauresmo, against whom she quit in Melbourne.

'I felt OK, but I didn't play well. I was looking forward to playing here.'