French Open:Roger Federer survived a bumpy ride this afternoon to beat claycourt specialist Argentine Jose Acasuso 7-6 5-7 7-6 6-2 to reach the third round of the French Open. The Swiss world number two was 5-1 down in the third set, saving a set point at 5-2 on his way to winning five games in a row to force a tie-break which he snatched with a sizzling serve that his 45th-ranked opponent could not control.
Federer had not made it easy for himself in a protracted first set, eventually taking it to a tie-break where he saved four set points before pulling back to snatch the set for himself with a tidy dropshot on his second set point.
Acasuso gave the Swiss a few lessons in how to play on his least favourite surface in the second but after seeing his chance of an upset evaporate in the third, he went out with a whimper in the fourth when he messed up a service return.
Venus Williamsflirted even closer with danger and had to save match point in her clash with Lucie Safarova.
The third seed was a point from defeat at 4-5 30-40 in the final set but produced a fine backhand winner to stay alive and went on to record a 6-7 (5/7) 6-2 7-5 victory.
Asked how she felt staring down the barrel of defeat, Williams explained she just went on instinct.
"I wasn't thinking," she said. "Not at all.
"(In that situation) I probably just stick to my technique - rely on that. Thankfully, I wasn't thinking. It just happened, so it was great."
Williams added: "It was just one of those matches that feels really good to win, because obviously the level of play was so high."
In contrast to her sister,
Serena Williams, strolled into the third round.
The second seed had struggling in her opening match but on Thursday she crushed
Virginia Ruano Pascual, at 35 the oldest player in the draw, 6-2 6-0.
The American star will now play another Spaniard, Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, for a place in the last 16.
Svetlana Kuznetsovaand
Jelena Jankovicalso wasted little time in reaching the last 32.
Kuznetsova, the 2006 runner-up, crushed Galina Voskoboeva 6-0 6-2 in just 49 minutes, while Jankovic recorded a 6-1 6-2 victory over Slovakia's Magdalena Rybarikova.
Jankovic is happy that she is returning to something approaching her best form after a disappointing run of late.
She said: "When you see how I was playing a few months ago, it was really disastrous. I wasn't moving well, I was making so many errors, my game was completely off, as well as my confidence.
"Now I think I'm on the right track. I want to get back into the spotlight."
Caroline Wozniacki (10)was another seed to enjoy smooth progress. She beat American
Jill Craybas6-1 6-4.
But one seed to fall early on day five was French number one
Marion Bartoli.
The former Wimbledon finalist was beaten 6-3 7-5 by veteran Italian
Tathiana Garbin.
There was more woe for the home fans later in the day when 21st seed
Alize Cornetlost 6-3 6-2 to
Sorana Cirstea, although
Virginie Razzanolifted spirits later in the day as she toppled 18th seed
Anabel Medina Garrigues, posting a 6-2 6-2 victory.
Sybille Bammer(28) was another seed to exit. She lost in three sets to
Melinda Czink.
Back in the men's singles, crowd pleaser
Jo-Wilfried Tsongadelighted the home fans on a good day for the host nation's male players.
The ninth seed led a host of Frenchmen into the third round, turning on the style to beat claycourt expert
Juan Monaco7-5 2-6 6-1 7-6 (10/8).
Gael Monfils, seeded 11, followed Tsonga's lead and joined him in the last 32. He held serve throughout his clash with
Victor Crivoi, winning 6-4 6-3 6-3.
Paul-Henri Mathieu, the 32nd seed, was a 6-2 6-3 6-4 winner over
Pablo Andujarto set up a meeting with Federer.
Marc Gicquelbeat
Andreas Beck6-4 6-7 (6/8) 7-6 (7/3) 7-5, while
Jeremy Chardywas a five-set winner over Italy's
Simone Bolelli, 6-2 6-3 4-6 4-6 6-1 the result.
However,
Guillaume Rufinand
Arnaud Clementboth bowed out.
Meanwhile, fifth seed
Juan Martin Del Potrowas a convincing 6-3 7-5 6-0 winner against Serbia's
Viktor Troicki.
Sent out to the unfamiliar surroundings of Court Seven at Roland Garros, the Argentine cracked 40 winners en route to an easy triumph.
There was also a rare straight-sets win on clay for
Andy Roddick.
The former US Open champion has always struggled at Roland Garros but he eased his way into the third round for only the second time in eight visits with his 6-2 6-2 7-6 (7/2) victory over
Ivo Minar. He faces Gicquel next.
Nikolay Davydenkoquickly wrapped up victory in his delayed clash with
Diego Junqueira.
The 10th seed had led by two sets to one when play was suspended on Wednesday night due to fading light.
And when the players returned to court today, the Russian won all four games played to complete a 4-6 6-3 6-0 6-2 victory.
There was also an easy win for 16th seed
Tommy Robredo, who eased past his Spanish compatriot
Daniel Gimeno-Traver6-4 6-4 6-3.
But
Leonardo Mayerwas unable to repeat his heroics of Tuesday when he ousted 15th seed
James Blake.
The Argentine qualifier pushed
Tommy Haasthe distance though before losing 6-3 in the final set.