Roger Federer went into this afternoon's French Open third-round clash with Julien Benneteau looking to settle an old score, after losing to the 30th seed in Rotterdam earlier this year.
The Swiss star was broken in the first game but quickly responded to claim the opening set in just 28 minutes.
Benneteau showed neat touch throughout but could not trouble Federer, who was in ominous form to triumph in straight sets 6-3 6-4 7-5.
Look back at a consummate performance from the 17-time Grand Slam winner with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute commentary below.
Afternoon tennis fans from a blustery Roland Garros. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for live coverage of what promises to be an intriguing third-round clash in the men's singles, with Roger Federer looking to prove his title credentials against stern opposition in hometown favourite Julien Benneteau.
After a slight delay to accommodate Maria Sharapova's rain-delayed match this morning both players are out and warming up on Court Philippe Chatrier, with play due in around five minutes. Hopefully conditions improve this afternoon and allow this attractive tie to play out in full.
Benneteau is something of a bogeyman for the Swiss star and beat the second seed earlier this year in Rotterdam, recording an impressive straight-sets victory. Federer was below par that day and will be desperate to avenge that disappointing display and continue his French Open campaign.
Here we go, play is about to begin in the pick of the men's third-round matches, with Federer to serve first on a cold day in Paris.
BREAK! What a start for the 30th seed as he breaks at the first possible opportunity. Federer stayed deep and allowed the Frenchman to send a pair of forehand winners down the line to claim break point in some style. Early pressure here for the second seed, but plenty of time to recover from a slow start.
Benneteau rattles off three quick points on serve as he looks to consolidate that early break, but Federer battles back to deuce after forcing successive unforced errors in lengthy baseline rallies. The Frenchman then just about edges a neat exchange of volleys to claim advantage and uses his serve to take a two-game lead. Almost the perfect start here for the 30th seed.
Early on this match is shaping up to be fought out in a grueling fashion at the baseline. Federer is up and running after using an effective first serve to close out a routine hold, much to the relief of the second seed.
BREAK! A change of ends sees Federer put his nemesis under pressure by taking a swift 0-30 lead. Benneteau is let off the hook by a long forehand up the line and takes advantage to fight back and force deuce. Federer then takes over, showing his class to force break point at the net before being gifted an easy break by a slack double fault from Benneteau.
A routine hold edges Federer ahead as a pair of precise forehand winners leave Benneteau rooted to the spot on the baseline. The second seed has found his groove after a slow start and now looks in ominous form. Time for Benneteau to dig deep and hang on in this opening set.
Another awesome winner from Federer down the line has Benneteau back under pressure on serve. The 30th seed responds with a wide kick-serve to build a 40-30 lead, before holding serve with a strong forehand winner. That response bodes well for a competitive match as Federer is made to wait for a second break of serve.
Federer is now completely dictating the pace of this match, drilling the ball from side to side and making his opponent chase down lost causes at the baseline. A second successive hold to love for the Swiss star restores his narrow advantage as we get to the business end of this opening set.
BREAK! Precision baseline play sees Federer take charge of the first set and claim a break without conceding a point. Benneteau simply had no answer to the pace and intensity of his opponent's backhand and now looks in deep trouble, favouring the left leg as he switches ends.
SET! That shaky first game is a distant memory as Federer makes claims his 12th successive point and with it the opening set in just 28 minutes. It was noticeable as Benneteau wilted in that last game just how much the Frenchman was struggling to move, which does not bode well when you are facing the second seed!
The crowd at Philippe Chatrier is already disbanding, perhaps a sign that Federer is in no mood to be charitable and wants a stress-free victory this afternoon. On this form the Swiss veteran is an absolute joy to watch, with variety of shots in abudance. Can Benneteau offer any resistance in this second set?
A quite outrageous slice of luck helps Benneteau start the second set with an important hold to build his confidence. Trailing at 0-30 a double net call went his way and the Frenchman took full advantage, responding to use his backhand and claim the opening game.
Federer re-exerts his dominance with another untroubled hold, spanking a backhand across court that may well have been the shot of the day, leveling up the second set in the early going.
After quickly building a 40-0 lead Benneteau's focus is stopped as he argues with the umpire over a call on his second serve. Federer uses the chance to apply pressure with a cheeky drop shot, but the underdog regains composure to ace down the centre to hold serve. If this strong serving continues we may yet see a competitive second set.
Finally some signs of resistance to the Federer serve from Benneteau, who manages to reach deuce with some strong backhands from the baseline. Federer looks typically unruffled but perhaps too relaxed as he mishits a backhand slice to concede break point. A wild attempt at a winner from Benneteau then lets his opponent off the hook, with Federer capitalising to drill a forehand across court and eventually take a difficult hold.
Federer looks angered by his performance in the last game and gets aggressive with his returns as a result. At 30-30 Benneteau mixes things up by closing distance at the net in successive points, winning both to retake the lead midway through the second set.
A quite exquisite backhand slice from Federer draws a chorus of approval from the crowd, that was easily the best shot we've seen so far today. Benneteau has no answer to that kind of variety as the second seed holds to love with ease.
The crowd are desperate for Benneteau to make this match a contest and the Frenchman responds, forcing a pair of errors with assertive play to build a 40-15 lead on serve. Federer rises to the challenge and once again puts slice and topspin behind his backhand to respond, but another sloppy error lets Benneteau off the hook as he regains the lead in this second set at 4-3 on serve.
Federer is definitely being tested far more in this second set but despite exerting pressure Benneteau just cannot make a dent in his opponent's serve. Another consummate performance on the backhand side draws the pair level at 4-4 in the second set.
BREAK! There was an air of inevitability about that break as Federer moves up another gear by stepping in to expose his opponent's weak second serve. At 15-40 ahead the second seed uncorks a delicate return that leaves Benneteau beaten despite being in a strong position at the net. Federer will now serve for the second set and looks in no mood to waste time this afternoon.
SET! Benneteau opens a crucial game by edging a superb exchange at the net, with Federer acknowledging a clever stroke from his adversary. Any hopes of a break are quickly extinguished though as Federer shows no mercy to claim the second set with barely an hour of this third-round match gone.
You have to feel for Benneteau here, the Frenchman looks jaded and simply cannot live with Federer when the pace and intensity of this clash increases. That early break gave the 30th seed false hope but he now needs a miracle to overturn a two-set deficit against an in-form Federer.
I can't find any solace for French fans in the statistics for this match either. Federer has hit 18 winners to Benneteau's nine and has also win 80% of points on his second serve. On this form the second seed must be considered a genuine contender to Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal for the title at Roland Garros this year.
The third set starts with Benneteau hitting a crowd-pleasing winner, reaching behind to claw a backhand volley down the line and earning a warm round of applause for his efforts. Federer quickly responds to win four successive points to earn the hold in clinical style.
A confident hold to love from Benneteau levels the third set early on. Despite trailing and looking fatigued the Frenchman is still playing with style and uses a fierce backhand winner to hold serve emphatically.
Three successive unforced errors sees Federer once again take control on serve, despite a point being replayed after a bad call from the line judge. Federer responds by swatting aside a swerving forehand before an ace down the line brings up another hold to love. Benneteau has been unable to make any dent in his opponent's serve this afternoon since breaking in the opening game.
The Frenchman is controlling what he can by staying strong on serve, with particular attention paid to placement behind his second serve. Benneteau holds a narrow 3-2 lead in a set he must win, with neither player threatening a breakthrough so far in the third.
Federer wastes no time in building a 40-0 lead on serve after getting the benefit of a marked call from the umpire. Benneteau once again gets praise from the crowd with a forehand winner in the next point, but the strong shot offered only a momentary reprieve. Plain sailing continues for Federer on serve to level the third set.
Despite the fairly routine nature of this Federer victory Benneteau continues to be aggressive and hit winners with a variety on either side of the court. A strong smash is followed by a wide second serve to earn a fourth successive hold for the Frenchman, who continues to cling on in this third set.
A further hold to love for Federer, who now looks to have regained focus in a bid to stop this match in straight sets. Four successive points all won with minimum fuss on serve to level the third at 4-4!
More superb shot-making at both ends of the court keeps the crowd interested, but its Benneteau that hold firm to edge back ahead late in the third set. Once again the Frenchman refuses to be troubled on his second serve, using a wide delivery to keep Federer off balance.
Serving to stay in the third set brings out the best in Federer as that trusty backhand once again to set up a pair of effective winners across court. A powerful ace brings up the hold for the second seed, with extra games now required to settle the third set!
BREAK! A beautiful forehand down the line sees Federer take a 0-30 lead on the Benneteau serve, putting the Frenchman under immense pressure to respond. Unfortunately the tension tells as the 30th seed concedes break point with a silly unforced error on his forehand side. With three break points in the bank Federer lashes an unstoppable backhand down the line and will now serve for the match.
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Federer 6-3 6-4 7-5 Benneteau
In the end what promised to be a close encounter proved academic as Federer produced a commanding performance to reach the fourth round with a straight-sets victory.
Federer will now advance to face either Gilles Simon or Sam Querrey in the last 16. Benneteau definitely looked jaded in that match but can be relatively pleased with a spirited effort, despite losing in just over 90 minutes.
On this evidence Federer is definitely capable of challenging anyone at Roland Garros, including his old nemesis Rafael Nadal. With Novak Djokovic also in the mix the business end of the men's singles promises to be a real treat once again this year, despite the absence of Andy Murray through injury.
That just about does it for live coverage of today's big match on Philippe Chatrier. Thanks for joining us and be sure to stick with Sports Mole all day for comprehensive French Open coverage on both sides of the draw. Good afternoon!
Written by
Liam Power
Liam Power
