Roland Garros 2009: Roger Federer Guns His Way Past a Spirited Alberto Martin

Allez Roger!

It feels so musical to the ears, not to forget acutely satisfying and heartwarming, especially when he plays and wins in full "Federer-esque" flow like he did this afternoon.

Starting his campaign in the hunt for the elusive French Open, Roger Federer came out displaying his talent in style by literally destroying his Spanish opponent Alberto Martin in a light and sublime 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 showdown.

The all "Bluey" Roger with his trademark "Collared T-shirt" gave a fright to his fans when he lost the very first game of the opening set, though thereafter he appeared to be at ease throughout the course of the match.

His first serve was ticking; his service aces were bang on target; every forehand was a dangerous combination of subtlety and forceful fatality; every drop shot jaw-dropping...all in all a glimpse of a sliver of the once forceful Federer.

With a first serve percentage of over 70 (when was the last time he did that this year?), Federer fired 10 aces and hit over 45 winners to wrestle the match from his gutsy Spanish rival, who wasn't able to tame the rejuvenated Swiss in spite of all his pumped up-ness!

A break each in the first and the second set, and a couple more in the third, allowed Federer to serve for the match comfortably in the eighth game, making the match a total "No Sweat" encounter for him.

Yet, at the same time amidst these nicey, nicey thoughts and "Cheshire Cat" grinning, is no pushing far behind the fact that his backhand continues to be wobbly. During the course of lengthy rallies directed towards his backhand, he tends to make mistake and invariably falters.

To add to that today, his net approaches weren't good enough, and many of the winners that Martin had to his credit were all due to Federer's erroneous judgement while attacking from the net.

Alberto Martin might be history in Federer's French Open daily planner henceforth, but in the days to come as he gears up to meet the other contestants, it shouldn't be that he himself becomes a case of martyred history in the 2009 French Open itinerary because of these factors!