Federer makes up for lost time in Madrid return win

By Bill Scott Oct 17, 2006, 22:28 GMT

Madrid - Roger Federer won his 15th match in a row Tuesday as he made a return to the Madrid Masters after three years away, defeating Nicolas Massu 6-3, 6-2 in his opening match.

The stylish Swiss took the first step towards a possible tenth trophy of the season, though he could be set for a final against local hero and defending champion Rafael Nadal.

'I played the big points better than he did, made it easier for myself,' said Federer, 78-5 this season. 'The match could have turned out much harder, but this is the perfect results for the first round.'

Federer last played indoors on the ATP when he lost the Shanghai Masters Cup final to David Nalbandian last November, playing on a recovering ankle which caused him to miss Madrid in 2005.

The world number 1 tapped wood as he said he has basically been injury-free during this season of three Grand Slam titles, with the ankle requiring only moderate precautions.

'I'm just being very careful at the end of the year, trying to be really professional by warming up a lot and taping,' Federer said.

'That's all I can do - and hopefully just play well.'

Andy Roddick clocked his eighth consecutive career victory over France's Sebastien Grosjean winning 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) to earn a place in the third round.

Roddick, seeded sixth, fired over the last of his nine aces to clinch the win in 87 minutes with 34 winners. He never faced a break point.

The American said he was feeling his body as a long season nears the end.

'My knees are hurting a bit, it's just a bit of tendinitis, nothing serious,' Roddick said. 'At the end of the year after a long schedule, you have your good days and your bad days. I don't know that today was great.'

Watching from the box was Roddick's coach Jimmy Connors, keen to help his man into next month's season-ending Masters Cup event in Shanghai.

Roddick needs to win the Madrid event in order to qualify for Shanghai, a tall order in a crowded field of top ten players.

Roddick improved his modest Madrid record to 2-3. He came to Spain after reaching the Vienna semi-finals last weekend.

In a dramatic start to the programme Tuesday, Frenchman Gael Monfils paid the price for an overzealous celebration, as he injured his right ankle after landing badly in a needless post-point leap.

The 20-year-old Monfils, ranked 34th, was taken off in a wheelchair as Dominik Hrbaty advanced into the second round 3-6, 2-2.

Monfils was undergoing tests at hospital before returning to the tennis for a doping test and was diagnosed with damaged ligaments which will end his season.

Seventh seed Tommy Robredo earned an opening victory Tuesday, defeating Argentine Juan Chela 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-3).

Spain's Robredo is also chasing a Shanghai spot, standing provisionally in the eight-man field.

Brit Tim Henman continued his recent top form as he defeated Spanish 14th seed David Ferrer 6-1, 4-6, 6-1.

Swede Joachim Johannson, who shocked Nadal last week in Stockholm, defeated Argentine teenager Juan Del Potro 6-4, 6-4 while recent Stockholm finalist Jarkko Nieminen lost in a letdown to Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-2, 6-3.