Federer peaking up in Madrid warmup

MADRID – Roger Federer began his final warmup for the French Open with a convincing 6-1, 7-5 win over Robin Soderling at the Madrid Open on Tuesday, while new No. 3 Andy Murray scored a tough 7-6 (9), 6-4 win against Simone Bolelli.

The Swiss star hit 24 winners and took advantage of the Swedish player’s 25 unforced errors to capture four break points. Federer fired down 11 aces, including on the final point to clinch his place in the third round.

“It’s about playing well and getting ready for Paris,” said Federer, who has lost to Rafael Nadal in his last three trips to Roland Garros. “It’s good to get the first match.”

Federer, who had a bye for the first round, could lose his No. 2 position in the rankings to Murray without a good showing at the joint ATP and WTA event.

Bolelli hit 30 winners to Murray’s 22, but the 61st-ranked Italian also had 50 unforced errors, including a forehand long to give Murray the first set tiebreaker after 1 hour, 17 minutes.

Murray, the defending champion, clinched the win with the only break of the match in the final game when Bolelli netted a forehand.

Murray will next play No. 16 Tommy Robredo after the Spaniard rallied to defeat Mardy Fish of the United States, 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2.

Earlier, Ivan Ljubicic scored the first upset after beating ninth-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 6-4, 7-5.

The Croatian wildcard broke ninth-ranked Tsonga three times, with two of those coming in the second set when Ljubicic rallied from 5-2 down to take it.

Madrid’s conversion from a fast-playing hardcourt to a clay surface looked to benefit 14th-seeded James Blake, who beat Romania’s Victor Hanescu, 6-2, 6-4, for his first victory in the Spanish capital after six appearances. (AP)