Federer, Serena safely through at Madrid Open

Roger Federer made a winning return after a two-month absence from the court as he cruised to 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 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 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 Kei Nishikori or Viktor Troicki. 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 he was beaten 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 by Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver. World No.15 Stanislaw 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. And 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. From: AFP