Federer battles hard to advance past Paradorn (Roundup)

By Bill Scott Aug 16, 2006, 2:54 GMT

Cincinnati - Roger Federer played through the fear factor, rallying past Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan 7-5, 6-4 to advance over his first obstacle at the Cincinnati Masters Tuesday.

The Swiss top seed advanced into a match with British world number 21 Andy Murray, who defeated his senior compatriot Tim Henman for the third time in ten months, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.

Federer was forced to make a quick change from his seventh title triumph of the season last weekend at Montreal, adjusting with difficulty to the Cincinnati cement where he won a year ago.

He had to fight back from a break down in each set as he dealt luckless Paradorn his 15th loss in the first round this season.

'I was very worried today, obviously,' said the Swiss after notching a 55th straight win on North American hardcourt. 'The court was quick. He was playing very, very well.'

'I had a bad feeling when I was down in that first set. I thought this match could be over in a hurry - the other way.'

But the smooth Swiss found his feet in customary fashion to go through.

The venue had been the scene of his last defeat on American soil, two years ago in an opening match against Dominik Hrbaty.

'I've been struggling here in Cincinnati over the years, except last year. I couldn't get into the rallies really. The points were over before I knew it,' Federer said.

'It's a great result, in the end I played good tennis. I'm a bit surprised that it was that straightforward in the end,' he added.

Rafael Nadal also struggled with confidence before straightening out his game for a 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 6-3 opening win over American teenager Sam Querrey.

The Spanish world number 2, with his mind focused on improving his form after what he called a poor last week in Toronto, admitted that he battled with inner demons before pulling out the victory.

'I didn't go in with a lot of confidence. The victory today was the most important thing,' said Nadal, who holds five titles this season.

'I was playing poorly going into the match,' the double French Open winner said, referring to his third-round loss last week to Czech Tomas Berdych. 'In the third set, I improved my level. I finished the match much better than I started.'

Querrey, ranked 178th, fired ten aces but lost serve three times in the two-hour battle.

Croatian Ivan Ljubicic, the fourth seed, stretched the winless run of Briton Greg Rusedski into a fourth month with a 6-3, 6-4 win.

Rusedski last earned a victory in the second round of the Italian Open in early May, but is making decent progress as he recovers from a hip injury suffered before Wimbledon.

Spain's seventh seed Tommy Robredo was unimpressed by the Toronto final appearance of Richard Gasquet last weekend, knocking out the Frenchman 7-5, 7-5 two days after Gasquet challenged Roger Federer for the title in Canada.

Swede Robin Soderling defeated Nadal's Toronto conqueror Berdych 6-4, 6-3. Serb Novak Djokovic upset Finn Jarkko Nieminen, the number 12 seed 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, while German 14th seed Tommy Haas stopped Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 6-4.

Andy Murray's defeat of Tim Henman was the third in their series for the Scottish teenager, which began with a win over his mentor last October at the Basle indoors in Switzerland.

Murray also shocked the 59th-ranked Henman in the second round at Toronto last week on his way into the semis, his second solid tournament showing under new coach Brad Gilbert.

'I don't particularly enjoy playing Tim, to be honest,' Murray said after the match.

'I don't like having to shake Tim's hand at the end of the match having won against him. It's difficult because of what he means to me.'