Federer, Nadal step into third round on clay

By Bill Scott Apr 19, 2006, 19:40 GMT

Monte Carlo - Top seed Roger Federer and number 2 Rafael Nadal produced command performances on the clay Wednesday to mow down a pair of opponents for third-round spots in the 2.08-million-euro Monte Carlo Masters.

Federer set an informal personal rapidity record, spending just 46 minutes in crushing Spain's Alberto Martin 6-0, 6-1. Nadal, the defending champion, was unforgiving in a 6-4, 6-1 victory against Monaco's Jean-Rene Lisnard.

'This was really unexpected,' said Federer, 30-1 this year with four titles. 'I didn't play well in the first round. To play so different two days later, it's quite incredible.'

After waiting for a lengthy victory by Guillermo Coria over Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu 1-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-4, Federer was primed for action.

'I was getting impatient to get on the court, I had to warm up several times. I was really getting sort of ready to play and it never really happened.

'Once I got out there, I played very free, I played very good. I'm very happy the way I played, and everything worked out how I wanted.

'I couldn't have played any better almost, I think.'

Nadal took his record in the principality to 10-1, with his last loss on clay occurring a year ago in Valencia.

His victory was his 38th consecutive in succession on the surface, leaving the teenager standing just one victory behind Thomas Muster and Ilie Nastase, who are tied for fourth on the all-time clay win list.

'I was up a break and 40-0 and I lost my serve in the second game,' said the winner. 'I had to improve after that.

'I think I played better in the second set, but I need to improve a lot more. It's been a long time since last year (when he dominated on the clay).

'I had more matches and was more constant in my game at this time last year.'

Argentine David Nalbandian and Ivan Ljubicic rounded out success for the leading four seeds.

Nalbandian struggled before finding a way to win as he finally overcame persistent Italian Andreas Seppi 7-5, 7-5. Ljubicic engineered a fightback to advance past France's Florent Serra 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.

Sixth seed Coria overcame 20 doublefaults to finally outlast Mathieu in just under three hours of battle.

Coria fought back as he trailed 6-1, 5-1 against the 39th-ranked Mathieu, who won his first-ever match at the tournament as he defeated Marat Safin in the first round.

Coria finally advanced on his seventh match point after Mathieu failed on four of his own to close out victory. The winner had only 26 winners against 62 unforced errors.

'I was serving very bad during that match. It was terrible. But I'm very pleased with the way I came out of it,' said the Argentine, who won in 2004.

Monaco's Benjamin Balleret scored the win of his life as he advanced when French 13th seed Sebastien Grosjean quit with a back injury, handing over a 4-6, 7-5, 3-2 victory.