Federer all business in opening Rotterdam victory

By Bill Scott Feb 15, 2012, 20:27 GMT

Rotterdam, Netherlands - 2005 champion Roger Federer tossed sentiment aside as he returned to the ABN-AMRO World Tennis for the first time since his title and started all over again with a thundering 6-4, 6-4 defeat of Nicolas Mahut.

The 67-minute victory into the second round had an unexpected benefit, with the Swiss now a quarter-finalist after next intended opponent Mikhail Youzhny of Russia was forced to pull out with a foot injury.

The development means that Federer will play on Friday against Finn Jarkko Nieminen, who reached the last eight with a defeat of Poland's Lukasz Kubot 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (7-2).

Federer got untracked quickly against the 83rd-ranked Mahut as the Swiss earned a third straight victory over his French opponent, never facing a break point and winning 13 of the last 14 points.

'Any win is a good win,' said Federer. 'I'm glad to be in the quarter-finals after I learned that my next opponent gave up.

'It is always tough to make the change from (Davis Cup) clay but after losing my last two singles matches a win is great. 'I had to get used to the conditions quickly.

'It was a good start, I came through well, Nicolas is a tough player.'

Jittery Argentine Juan Del Potro made a winning debut, with the third seed moving into the second round with a defeat of Michael Llodra 6-4, 6-7 (3-7), 6-4.

Del Potro, playing in the Netherlands for the first time on the ATP admitted it was tough to claim victory.

'I was nervous in the final game,' said the third seed whose ranking is back in the Top 10 for the first time since his 2010 wrist injury and subsequent surgery. 'But I steadied to serve it out.'

The South American will next face Slovak Karol Beck, who had the better of one of the day's two German losers as he beat Davis Cup player Philipp Petzschner 7-6 (8-6), 6-3. Unseeded Marcos Baghdatis beat Matthias Bachinger of Germany in their first-round encounter 7-6 (7-2), 6-2.

Llodra came to the court somewhat drained after flying in from Vancouver in Canada's far west after a weekend Davis Cup victory for France over the home side. The 31-year-old ranked 47th won the Rotterdam title four years ago when he beat Swede Robin Soderling.

Second seed Tomas Berdych moved ahead with a defeat of Czech Davis Cup teammate Lukas Rosol 6-4, 6-2.

'I'm satisfied,' said seventh-ranked winner, an Australian Open quarter-finalist against Rafael Nadal and winner of the indoor Montpellier title 10 days ago.

'This was a tough transition from Davis Cup. Our court last weekend was much faster. I coped with it pretty well. I was able to find my rhythm quite fast and was able to play my game.'

The Czech who reached the 2010 Wimbledon final said that he is pleased so far with his season after the first month or so.

'My main goal is to win tournaments and get good results in Grand Slams,' he said after moving into a match with Baghdatis, 'I've had a solid start, I added another title, so I'm pleased.

'But the season is long and I'm looking forward to the Slams and the Olympics as well.'

Finland's Nieminen was the first into the quarter-finals through his defeat of Pole Lukasz Kubot, 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (7-2).