SPORTS

Federer avenges Olympic defeat

May 11, 2005 18:54 IST

Roger Federer avenged his Olympic defeat by Tomas Berdych on Wednesday, thrashing the Czech teenager 6-2, 6-1 to reach the third round of the Hamburg Masters.

The world number one's loss to Berdych in the second round of the Athens Olympic tournament was one of the shock results of 2004 but the Swiss top seed dominated their rematch on centre court at the Rothenbaum.

Federer will plays Spain's Tommy Robredo in the last 16 and looks in ominous form as he prepares for the start of the French Open on May 23. The claycourt event is the only one missing from his Grand Slam title collection.

The Swiss broke 19-year-old Berdych's serve in the opening game of each set and sealed a 53-minute victory with a decisive backhand volley on his first match point. It was his 37th win in 39 matches this year.

Robredo coasted to a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Brazil's three-times

former French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten, who looked well short of fitness.

Tim Henman won his all-British duel with Greg Rusedski 7-6, 6-4 in the first meeting between the two on clay. The fifth seed recovered from trailing 5-3 in the first set to record his sixth successive win over Rusedski, the world number 45.

In round three he faces Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela, who beat Sweden's Robin Soderling 6-1, 6-4.

Later on Wednesday, third seed Marat Safin of Russia faces the 2003 French Open champion, Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Argentina's two French Open finalists from last year, winner Gaston Gaudio and runner-up Guillermo Coria, also play their second round matches.

Source: REUTERS
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