Federer demolishes Gasquet in Paris

Top seed Roger Federer, defending champion Novak Djokovic and third seed Andy Murray all hit form on the super-quick courts at the Bercy arena to reach the Paris Masters third round yesterday.

Switzerland's Roger Federer serves against Frenchman Richard Gasquet during the second round of the Paris Masters ATP tournament at the Paris Bercy Omnisports Stadium yesterday. Federer won 6-4, 6-4. Pic/AFP

Federer breezed past home favourite Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-4 and Djokovic comfortably defeated Argentina's Juan Monaco 6-4, 6-3, but Murray had to battle back from a set down to overcome former champion David Nalbandian.

Federer served imperiously and secured the decisive break of serve in the third game of the first set with a typically deft forehand drop volley.

He broke Gasquet in the opening game of the second set and went on to close out victory in a leisurely 68 minutes, teeing him up for a showdown with unseeded Czech Radek Stepanek for a place in the last eight.

"It's always dangerous playing Richard here," said Federer, who has never gone beyond the quarter-finals at the event.

"Apart from a couple of games, there wasn't much between us.

"I've had injuries and problems with tiredness here before, and I hope I can change that this week."

Second seed Djokovic, who received a first-round bye, fought back from an early break in the first set against Monaco and then saw off break points in his opening two service games of the second before completing a routine win.

"He was taking the balls early and being aggressive, and he was the better player at the start of the match," said Djokovic, who lost to Federer in the Basel final on Sunday.

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