Roger Federer celebrates his wining his third round match

Top seed Roger Federer showed up on Friday and promptly sent France’s Arnaud Clement packing with a 1 hour 35 minute 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 victory. Coming off two very un-Federerish wins, the Swiss showed signs of rounding into shape just in time for a stiff round of sixteen challenge from German Jurgen Melzer.

The 16th seeded Melzer was sharp in overcoming a stern bid from Spain’s Feliciano Lopez, who has been hot of late. Melzer used his unflappable serve to hold off the fleet Lopez 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. Melzer fired 18 aces and 51 winners to overcome Lopez in two hours and thirty minutes.

Melzer overcame Novak Djokovic to gain the semifinals at Roland Garros and will present a tough test for Federer in the fourth round. The two have never met before.

Third seeded Novak Djokovic charged ahead of another Spaniard, the 28th seeded Montanes 6-1, 6-4, 6-4. Djokovic had his big serve on track and did not allow a break against the tenacious Montanes.

Andy Roddick lost the second set to Phillipp Kohlschreiber but rode his all court game to a 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3 victory. Last year, Roddick had a nearly impeccable record in tiebreakers but lately he has lost almost 50 percent of his tiebreakers. Against Kohlschreiber, Roddick used his crisp one-handed backhand to keep the German off balance.

Kohlschreiber praised Roddick’s ability to serve well in the big points. That service effectiveness enabled Roddick to reach the finals against Federer last year. This year, the twosome just may be meeting in the semifinals.

Roddick will next face Taipei’s Yen-Hsun Lu, the first player from Taipei to reach the round of sixteen. Lu upset favored Florian Mayer 6-4, 6-4, 2-1 when Mayer was forced to retire.

Tomas Berdych won a gritty five setter against Denis Istomin 6-7 (1), 7-6(5), 6-7 (8), 6-3, 6-3. Berdych seemed on the brink after a tough third set tiebreaker loss, but the Czech star buckled down and held serve the rest of the way.

Sentimental tournament favorite Lleyton Hewitt who recently defeated Federer for the first time in sixteen tries keeps playing with new confidence. The former number one knocked off France’s Gael Monfils 6-3, 7-6 (9), 6-4 to set up an interesting round of sixteen match up with Djokovic. Hewitt has momentum and plenty of crowd support. The competitor extraordinaire cannot be ruled out.

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