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Federer monsters Gael Monfils

Gael Monfils of France reacts after losing a point to Roger Federer of Switzerland at the Crandon Park Tennis Center in Key Biscayne, Florida, on Saturday. PHOTO: AFP

Top-seeded Roger Federer's quest for a title this year took a step forward with a straight-sets win over Frenchman Gael Monfils in the Sony Ericsson Open on Saturday.

The world's No. 1 beat Monfils 6-3, 6-4 in the second round -- the Swiss had a first-round bye -- to set up a clash with Swede Robin Soderling in the third round.

"I played well on the big points," Federer said. "The times he had break points, many times I served well and stayed aggressive. All in all, I played a very good match."

Soderling prepared for the Federer match with a win over another Swiss, beating Stanislas Wawrinka 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

The No. 4-seeded Nikolay Davydenko struggled but survived, finally downing Latvian Ernests Gulbis 3-6, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (3), and will meet Simone Bolelli in round three. The Italian beat German Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 6-3.

Spaniard David Ferrer was the major casualty of the day, losing to veteran Swede Thomas Johansson 6-4, 7-5, opening up that quarter of the draw for Davydenko.

Home crowd favorite Andy Roddick had a tough fight against Serbian qualifier Viktor Troicki before prevailing 5-7, 6-2, 6-4.

Roddick hit a winner not found in any textbook at a critical time in the final set.

With Troicki serving at 4-5 in the final game, a rally forced Roddick to the sideline near the net, and when Troicki sliced a volley to the other side, Roddick chased down the ball as it bounced away from him, then spun to yank a backhand crosscourt onto the line for an extraordinary winner.

"I didn't even see it," Roddick said. "I heard people yell and scream afterward, and I figured that was a good thing. As far as freak show trick shots, that's up there. You don't hit shots like that every day."

Five points later Roddick had won, setting up a third round meeting with Czech Ivo Minar, who had come through qualifiers, and beat Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela 6-3, 5-7, 6-3.

In the women's draw, second seed Ana Ivanovic cruised past France's Emilie Loit 6-1, 6-2, and will next meet former world No. 1 Lindsay Davenport. The two have never played before.

The American -- playing this tournament for the first time in five years -- also beat a French opponent, and also did it with ease, downing Camille Pin 6-2, 6-1.

"I have to approach it as if it's a final," Ivanovic said. "Growing up I saw her winning in Grand Slams, and she's such a great player and great champion. So I expect a very tough match."

Davenport, seeded 32nd, lost just six service points against Pin. Injuries, an aversion to the Florida island's windy weather and a pregnancy last year kept her away.

"I would have never thought that five years ago would have been my last time I played here," she said. "But I have to say I've really enjoyed myself so far this year. I was excited when I got back out on that court. It's a great, great center court."

Serbian Jelena Jankovic, seeded fourth, had to dig very deep to beat Swede Sofia Arvidsson 6-7 (7), 6-2, 7-6 (9).

Jankovic was 5-1 down in the third set and saved five match points in the tiebreaker, finally winning after midnight.

She will meet Lucie Safarova in the third round, with the Czech coming from a set down to beat Italian Karin Knapp 3-6, 7-5, 6-0.

Russian No. 5-seeded Anna Chakvetadze saw off Austrian Tamira Paszek 6-3, 6-2. She will face German wildcard Sabine Lisicki in the third round. Lisicki beat lucky loser Mariya Koryttseva of the Ukraine 6-1, 7-5.

Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova was another of the big-name players to progress as she made quick work of Venezuelan Milagros Sequera 6-2, 6-1.

Hantuchova's third-round opponent will be veteran Japanese Ai Sugiyama -- a 6-2, 6-3 winner of Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain.

Russian Elena Dementieva had little trouble disposing of Ukrainian Kateryna Bondarenko 6-0, 6-4 and will face Dominika Cibulkova in the next round. Cibulkova rallied to upset Italian Francesca Schiavone 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Eight seeded men lost, including No. 13 Andy Murray and No. 21 Lleyton Hewitt. Murray, a semi-finalist last year, lost to Mario Ancic 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (7). Hewitt was eliminated by Jose Acasuso 6-3, 7-6 (4).
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