Federer eases past Stepanek

Madrid - Roger Federer made a winning return after a two-month absence from the court as he cruised to a 6-3, 6-3 win over Radek Stepanek to move into the third round of the Madrid Open on Tuesday.

A solitary break in the fourth game was enough for the Swiss world No 2 to take the first-set 6-3.

And he looked set to storm through the second as he served for the match with a double break at 5-2 in the second.

However, Stepanek then showed some resistance to break the record 17-time Grand Slam champion for the only time in the match.

The Czech's fightback didn't last long though as Federer broke again in the very next game to seal a third round tie against either Japan's Kei Nishikori or Viktor Troicki of Serbia.

Andy Murray also claimed a victory but was made to struggle at times by World No.26 Florian Mayer, before coming through in two tie-breaks.

Mayer was made to rue numerous opportunities to have taken the first set as he passed up five set points in the tie-break before world No 3 Murray made sure with a crosscourt forehand on his second set-point.

The German surged ahead at the start of the second set and led 4-1 before Murray broke back for the first time in the match at 4-2 to force the game into a second tie-break.

And the Briton was far more dominant at the second time of asking as he began to read Mayer's serve to good effect and wrapped up the tie-break 7-3 to move into round three, where he will meet France's Gilles Simon.

Earlier, Serbian World No 9 Janko Tipsarevic became the first seed in the men's event to fall on Tuesday morning as he was beaten by clay court specialist Juan Monaco 7-5, 6-3.

And eighth seed Richard Gasquet also suffered an early exit as the Frenchman was beaten 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 by Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver.

World No 15 Stanislas Wawrinka, however, continued his fine form after winning the Portugal Open last week with a comfortable 6-4, 6-4 win over Romanian qualifier Marius Copil.

In the women's event World No.1 Serena Williams eased into the third round with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Spain's Lourdes Dominguez Lino.

The American had struggled early on in her first-round match against Kazak qualifier Yulia Puntitseva, but began much brighter as she broke Dominguez Lino straight away on her way to winning the first set 6-2.

The second set started in a similar vein as Williams seized a 2-0 lead, but Dominguez Lino fought back bravely to level matters at 2-2 before the next seven games went with serve.

However, the World No 47 finally crumbled when serving to stay in the match at 5-6 as Williams broke to love to seal victory.

French 14th seed Marion Bartoli overcame a twisted ankle during the second set of her match against Spaniard Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor to progress 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.

Women's singles

Second round

Serena Williams (USA x1) bt Lourdes Dominguez Lino (ESP) 6-2, 7-5

Marion Bartoli (FRA x14) bt Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor (ESP) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4

Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) bt Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) 6-2, 4-6, 6-4

Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP) bt Madison Keys (USA) 7-6(7/3), 6-3

Sabine Lisicki (GER) bt Dominika Cibulkova (SVK x15) 7-6(7/4), 7-6(7/3)

Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) bt Nadia Petrova (RUS x11) 7-6(7/2), 4-6, 6-4

Ana Ivanovic (SRB) bt Chanelle Scheepers (RSA) 6-2, 6-2

Men's singles

First round

Juan Monaco (ARG) bt Janko Tipsarevic (SRB x9) 7-6 (7/5) 6-3

Benoit Paire (FRA) bt Joao Souza (BRA) 6-1, 7-6 (7/0)

Santiago Giraldo (COL) bt Martin Klizan (SVK) 6-2, 6-4

Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) bt Fabio Fognini (ITA) 7-6 (7/4), 2-6, 7-6(7/5)

Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI x15) bt Marius Copil (ROM) 6-4, 6-4

Tommy Haas (GER x13) bt Andreas Seppi (ITA) 6-1, 6-2

Victor Troicki (SRB) bt Marcel Granollers (ESP) 7-5, 4-6, 6-2

Tommy Robredo (ESP) bt Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) 6-4, 6-2

Second round

Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) bt Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) 7-6 (8/6), 6-7(8/10), 6-3

Roger Federer (SUI x2) bt Radek Stepanek (CZE) 6-3, 6-3

Andy Murray (GBR x3) bt Florian Mayer (GER) 7-6(13/11), 7-6(7/3)

Daniel Gimeno-Traver (ESP) bt Richard Gasquet (FRA x8) 7-5, 3-6, 6-4

Gilles Simon (FRA x16) bt Jeremy Chardy (FRA) 6-4, 7-6(7/5)

Fernando Verdasco (ESP) bt Milos Raonic (CAN x12) 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (9/7)

Pablo Andujar (ESP) bt John Isner (USA) 6-4, 6-4