World number one Roger Federer ended Wesley Moodie's reign as Japan Open champion with a crushing 6-2, 6-1 win to reach the quarter-finals on Thursday.
Razor-sharp from the opening point, the Swiss top seed needed just 52 minutes to blow away the South African behind a blaze of winners in Tokyo, improving his win-loss record this year to 74-5.
"I played great and came up with an incredible match," Federer told reporters.
"I hit a few really great shots but to win so convincingly was quite surprising."
Federer won seven straight games from 3-2 in the first set with an awesome display of stroke-making that left Moodie shaking his head in disbelief.
One angled backhand return from Federer that drifted away from Moodie and onto the line to give him a break for 2-0 in the second set even brought a wry smile to Federer's face.
The nine-times Grand Slam singles champion had struggled to beat 276th-ranked qualifier Viktor Troicki 7-6, 7-6 in his opening match and the unfortunate Moodie felt the full backlash.
Federer wrapped up the formalities on his first match point with a kicking second serve that brought a wild backhand from his deflated opponent, who looked relieved his ordeal was over.
"I had trouble returning yesterday and I was expecting worse today," Federer added. "But my reaction time was faster throughout the match today and I got the read better."
Federer will play either Germany's Alexander Waske or Japanese wildcard Takao Suzuki in the quarter-finals.
Federer's match with Moodie was played under a closed roof in Tokyo as rain washed out much of Thursday's play.
Former British number one Tim Henman's third round clash against Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro was just one of several matches postponed until Friday.
© 2024 Rediff.com -