PARIS — Now things could get a little more interesting for Swiss star Roger Federer.
After a pair of straight- forward and straight-set victories at the French Open against qualifiers ranked outside the top 150, the 17-time major champion will face a seeded player, France’s Julien Benneteau, who not only already beat Federer once this year but also came within two points of upsetting him at Wimbledon, of all places, in 2012.
“I think I’m playing OK,” Federer said in something of an understatement, considering he’s dropped 11 games through six sets so far. “Definitely think the next match is going to be sort of the big test for me, to see exactly where I stand.”
There wasn’t much trouble for Federer in the second round Wednesday, when he beat two-time NCAA singles champion Somdev Devvarman 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 in less than 90 minutes while accumulating a 54-12 edge in winners.
Serena Williams has been challenged about as much as Federer has.
Williams extended her career-high winning streak to 26 matches by defeating French wild-card entry Caroline Garcia 6-1, 6-2. One year after the only first-round Grand Slam exit of her career came in Paris, the American star has lost only four games in two matches.
Williams won 32-of-39 service points, and while that’s become expected, she also showed tremendous touch with a perfect drop shot that barely cleared the net and nearly nestled right there in the clay in the second set’s second game.
