By Chris Soderstrom
A long and gruelling season did little to dampen the spirits of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, who shot through to the BNP Paribas Masters third round yesterday.
After sealing a hat-trick in Basel last week, Federer triumphed over Sweden’s Robin Soderling for the eighth time in as many encounters. The Swiss star won 6-4, 7-6(7) and will now face unseeded Croat Marin Cilic for a place in the next round.
World No. 1 Rafael Nadal showed very little, if any, fatigue in his 91 st match of the season blowing away Florent Serra 6-2, 6-4. Yet, after a long season where he has led the ATP Tour with eight titles, Nadal conceded he was feeling the effects in the match.
“I’m a little bit tired after a long season, mentally and physically. But I’m going to try my best in every match,” said the 2008 French Open, Wimbledon and Olympic champion, who will play Gael Monfils in the next round.
“I know I have to keep on giving it everything to stay on top. But I’m someone who tries to have fun out there and that’s what I’ll keep on doing.”