Dubai 2014: Federer beats Stepanek in tough battle

Dubai, Feb 27 (IANS): Swiss tennis ace Roger Federer, currently the world’s number eight, won in the third round of the 22nd Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships by beating Czech Radek Stepanek in three sets 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-3 here on Wednesday.

“It was a difficult match, Stepanek broke my serve four times, and I had to look for my rhythm. He mixes up his shots and is very talented. I don’t know how I came through, but I am happy I made it,” Xinhua quoted Federer as saying after the match.

Federer’s powerful first serve at times reached a speed of 195 km per hour.

The 35-year-old Sepanek, ranked 48th in the world, amused the audience from time to time with a couple of funny actions, when he for example started cleaning a part of the court with a towel which he then used to dry his sweaty face.

Federer, 32, has won the Dubai Open five times in his career, more times than any other male player. With 17 Grand Slam titles and overall 302 weeks at the world number one position, Federer is considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time.