Federer leads big three into third round

16 Aug 2012, 7:26 pm   -   Source: AAP
Australian Bernard Tomic (pic) will face Roger Federer in the third-round of the Cincinnati Masters. (AAP)

Australian Bernard Tomic (pic) will face Roger Federer in the third-round of the Cincinnati Masters. (AAP)

Roger Federer has confirmed a third-round date with Australian teenager Bernard Tomic at the Cincinnati Masters.

Four-time champion Roger Federer has crushed Alex Bogomolov 6-3 6-2 to confirm a third-round date with Bernard Tomic at the Cincinnati Masters.

The world No.1 was untouchable against his modest Russian proposition as he led the top three seeds into the last 16 of the US Open lead-up event.

Federer won the Cincinnati Masters in 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2010 and is bidding for some personal Masters 1000 history as he chases a fifth title.

The match lasted just an hour as Federer dominated. He did need two match points and faced - and saved - his only break point of the match in the final moments of play.

"It was a good match for me," said the 17-time grand slam champion.

"It was a good win. I don't know his game that well, but we played a good match. The switch from grass to hardcourt is difficult.

"This court is faster than Wimbledon and the bounce is really high. It was a good first round for me. It may have gone quickly and there were hardly any rallies, but I was pleased to close it out."

Second seed Novak Djokovic made a scratchy start, while third seed Andy Murray motored through after byes on Wednesday.

Djokovic did not even have the chance to hit on the showcase court after arriving in the mid-west from his post-Olympic title in Toronto at the weekend.

But the Serb toughed out a defeat of Italian Andreas Seppi 7-6 (7-4) 6-2.

Murray, the Olympic gold medallist who played one match last week in Toronto and then quit with a sore knee, showed no sign of injury as he efficiently handled American Sam Querrey 6-2 6-4, taking just 83 minutes to get his game into shape.

Djokovic was not impressed with his own form, calling his win "not a great performance."

The winner of three grand slams in 2011 improved to 9-0 over Seppi, whom he struggled with at Roland Garros in a comeback from two sets to love down in the fourth round.

"I didn't do anything special out there," he said.

"I was just trying to get used to conditions, trying to keep the ball on the court and hit one more than my opponent."

Djokovic will line up in the third round against Russian veteran Nikolay Davydenko, who beat Florian Mayer of Germany 6-3 6-3.

Argentine sixth seed and former US Open winner Juan Martin del Potro knocked out Germany's Tommy Haas 7-5 6-2, but Czech Radek Stepanek returned the favour with his defeat of Argentina's eighth seed Juan Monaco 7-6 (7-2) 6-1.

Mardy Fish, the US 10th seed, beat Argentine Carlos Berlocq 6-3 6-1.

Croatian 12th seed Marin Cilic put out Jesse Levine 7-5 7-6 (8-6) and Australian wildcard Lleyton Hewitt went down to Serb Viktor Troicki 6-2 6-0 after not getting to bed until 3am in his Monday late-night opening win.

In the women's second round, top seed Agnieszka Radwanska dispatched Swede Sofia Arvidsson 6-4 6-3, with No.4 seed Petra Kvitova came back to knock out German Mona Barthel 3-6 6-2 7-5.

Italy's seventh seed and Roland Garros finalist Sara Errani beat Slovak Daniela Hantuchova 6-4 6-4.

Slovak 11th seed Dominika Cibulkova was unable to finish as she retired in her match against Andrea Hlavackova, losing 7-6 (7-1) 4-1.

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