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  • Federer could face first real test in round 3

    8/31/08 1:05 PM | David Cox
    - Having rolled through the first 2 rounds in 3rd gear, it now gets serious for Roger Federer against 28th seed Stepanek, a tricky opponent who's given him a fair share of problems in the past

    Despite making 4 finals on clay earlier this year, Federer landed just one title, a small event in the Portuguese town of Estoril. However when Rafael Nadal crashed out early on in Rome, Federer appeared odds on to claim glory for the first time in the Foro Italico. But no one had taken into account Stepanek who produced an inspired 2 sets of tennis to win 7-6(4), 7-6(7)

    Federer was in full control early on that afternoon but crucially Stepanek managed to stay with him before exerting some pressure of his own with net-rushing tactics to Federer's backhand. The Swiss couldn't handle it and shanked countless passing shot attempts off that side

    Stepanek's tactics are likely to be very similar on the faster courts of New York, peppering that backhand wing and looking to get in at every opportunity.

    Federer will hope to return a lot better than on that afternoon in Rome. Having won his previous 4 matches against Stepanek (including a 6-1, 6-4 win in Rome 2006) he was possibly guilty of underestimating the Czech.

    Stepanek's started well here after a poor summer where he lost at the first hurdle in Toronto, Cincinnati and Bejing. Chris Guccione gave him a few problems on Friday but he came through 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-2

    Verdict: Federer in 4

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