Knocking off the Rust

Roger Federer was away from tournament play for six weeks, and his gameplay against James Blake tonight definitely showed rust. Yet he managed to beat Blake 7-6,7-5 in their first round match at the Western & Southern Group Cincinnati Masters.

Blake played compelling tennis that made you sit up in your seat and watch, but you always somehow knew that Federer had that extra gear to go to. In the last five games of the second set, you could sense him shifting up while Blake had nothing extra. Had Blake been able to capitalize on some break points, it could have gone to three sets. I think the result would still be the same, though. As it was, Federer was reeling in the second set, but Blake didn't make the knockout punch.

This was only their second career meeting: their first one was at the 2003 US Open, where Federer won in straight sets.

Also in action today was Andy Roddick, trying to shake off a first-round loss at last week's Montreal Masters by beating Jurgen Melzer 6-3,6-4. Tomorrow's contenders will include Lleyton Hewitt, who exited from last week's Masters event because of a stomach ailment, and Marat Safin, who has been out since Wimbledon due to treatment of his injured knee.

posted by Noelle De Guzman @ 9:54 AM