MONTREAL: Roger Federer got his US Open preparations off to an imperious start at the ATP Montreal Masters yesterday, dismantling Canada’s Peter Polansky in straight sets to advance to the third round.
The Swiss star, who celebrated his 36th birthday on Tuesday, overwhelmed his world number 116-ranked opponent to win 6-2, 6-1 in 53 minutes.
Federer is riding high after a spectacular year which has netted him both the Australian Open and Wimbledon crowns.
After yesterday’s evidence few would bet against him adding the US Open to that haul after a masterful performance that left Polansky groping at shadows throughout.
Federer took control immediately against Polansky, holding his opening service game comfortably before quickly going 0-40 up in the second game.
A Polansky double fault gave Federer the break and the Swiss was soon 3-0 up after holding serve to love in the next game.
Breaking
Polansky held his next two service games but never looked like breaking Federer’s serve as the veteran moved into a 5-2 lead.
Earlier on Tuesday night, Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman saved four match points to shock third-seeded Dominic Thiem 6-4, 6-7 (7/9), 7-5 in the second round.
Canadian teenager Denis Shapovalov saved four match points en route to a three-set victory over Rogerio Dutra Silva in their first-round encounter.
The 18-year-old trailed 4-6 in the second-set tiebreaker but saved all four match points he faced to force a third set.
Shapovalov broke Brazil’s Dutra Silva in the seventh game of the third and went on to close out a 4-6, 7-6 (10/8), 6-4 victory.
South Korean 21-year-old Chung Hyeon withstood 16 aces to beat 2014 semi-finalist Feliciano Lopez 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (7/3).
He next faces ninth-seeded Belgian David Goffin, a 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 winner over Japan’s Yuichi Sugita.