That appeared a stretch in view of the forces assembled towards Federer. Within the subsequent spherical, Federer will face the winner of Wednesday’s match between Martin Fucsovics and Gael Monfils, one other veteran Frenchman who has been in far more harmful kind this season and has been speaking overtly about his need to make a run on the French Open title in just a few weeks.
If Federer wins that duel, he might face Fabio Fognini or Dominic Thiem within the quarterfinals. Each defeated Nadal in straight units on clay final month, Fognini on the best way to the title in Monte Carlo, and Thiem on the best way to the one in Barcelona.
What is obvious is that Federer is transferring, serving and hanging the ball with authority after a number of weeks of coaching on clay at residence in Switzerland.
He confronted no break factors towards Gasquet, defended notably nicely off the slide in his forehand nook and combined techniques with success — serving and volleying from time to time and pouncing shortly on any less-than-convincing return.
However then Madrid, at an altitude of two,300 ft, is a spot the place the ball meets much less resistance because it travels by the air and the place attacking tennis can show very efficient. Because the match shifted to clay 10 years in the past, Federer has gained it twice, in 2009 and 2012.
“It feels good to be again on the clay now, and I take pleasure in it, to be trustworthy,” he stated. “A few of these rallies the place you get pushed to the facet, you slide, you hit the ball, you slide, you hit the ball, you come again into it, then you possibly can defend in a unique method than you do on the hardcourts or on the grass.”
He final appeared in Madrid in 2015, dropping his opening match to Nick Kyrgios. His most up-to-date clay-court match got here on Could 12, 2016, when he misplaced to Thiem in straight units within the third spherical of the Italian Open.