Federer storms into Monte Carlo quarterfinals
Switzerland's Roger Federer is through to the quarterfinals of the Monte Carlo Masters, after making short work of France's Arnaud Di Pasquale, 6-1 6-2. The number 15 seed needed just 61 minutes to dispatch the Olympic bronze medallist.
Federer, the world number 22, ripped into Di Pasquale right from the outset, sweeping through the first set in just 29 minutes.
The Frenchman, who served up a first round shock when he knocked out top seed Marat Safin, was clearly weakened by a bout of gastro-enteritis.
But he was shown little sympathy by the Swiss number one, who unveiled a rich repertoire of superb passing shots, volleys and error-free baseline hitting.
“I felt really good, and I’ve never been as consistent during a match on clay before,” said Federer. “Even if Arnaud had been 100 per cent fit, I would have beaten him.”
Victory was doubly sweet for Federer in that it means he has achieved one of the targets he set himself at the start of the season.
“I wanted to at least reach the quarterfinals of one of the Masters Series played on this surface [the other two take place in Rome and Hamburg]. To do that in the first tournament I play in gives me great satisfaction,” he said.
Federer will play the ninth seed, France’s Sebastien Grosjean, in the quarterfinals.
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