Paul Annacone: 'Roger Federer was second-best clay-courter behind Rafa'
World no. 3 and two-time Caja Magica champion Roger Federer has made a winning return to clay, beating Richard Gasquet 6-2, 6-3 in 52 minutes for the 19th win in 21 matches this season. Competing on the slowest surface for the first time since Rome 2016, Roger had the upper hand all the time against the rival who hasn't fought this year before Madrid, struggling with a back injury since Paris Masters last October. This was the 20th match between Roger and Richard and the 18th win for the Swiss who notched the 375th Masters 1000 triumph and 1199th ATP win overall, the first in Madrid in four years.
Serving at only 53%, Federer defended both serves well, never facing a break point and scoring three on the other side to move over the top in less than an hour. The 20-time Grand Slam champion hit 28 winners and 20 unforced errors, dominating in the shortest points after firing a service winner in 40% of all the points behind the initial shot. The first set lasted just 25 minutes and Roger was the only player on the court, dropping five points on serve and breaking the rival in games two and eight for a 6-2.
Richard looked slow and sluggish, spraying a backhand error to get broken in the very first service game and handing the set to Roger when his drop shot failed to reach the net in game eight. The Frenchman stayed in touch in the first six games of the second set before Federer claimed 12 of the last 15 points, breaking Gasquet in game eight and sealing the deal with a service winner in the following game to set the third-round clash against Marton Fucsovics or Gael Monfils, which should provide much bigger test than this one.
"I talked with Roger Federer and Severin Luthi last fall about Roger's participation on clay in 2019 and he was ready to go and play on it," Paul Annacone said. "He grew up on this surface and we keep forgetting he was the second-best clay-courter in the world behind Rafa, it is not like this guy doesn't know how to play on clay. After such a long break, the most important thing for him would be can he play his way into the tournament, that's what is so tough about Masters 1000 tournaments because there are no easy matches. I remember him winning here in Madrid in 2012 on blue clay and he is very comfortable at this event."
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2DUSb9C
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