Roger Federer and Serena Williams both advanced to the third round of the 2013 French Open on Wednesday, making quick work of their second-round competition.
The second-round match between Federer and Somdev Devvarman saw Federer earn an easy win on Wednesday, 6-2, 6-1, 6-1. He looked at ease on the red clay, a surface he's traditionally struggled on, according to the Associated Press. He was determined to win in as few sets as possible.
"I tried to finish the match quite quickly, because I was afraid it would rain," Federer told reporters. "So I was very focused, and I'm very happy for that."
This is the first time since 2000 that Federer has come into the French Open without having won a tournament during the year. Still, Federer earned the No. 2 seed and is a favorite to reach the semifinals. If he continues to play aggressively and hit shots from all over the court as he did on Wednesday, Federer could make an even deeper push into the tournament.
"I'm happy that I was playing offensive and aggressive tennis in the first two matches," he added. "I didn't back off and start to play passive tennis and wait for mistakes. I took it to my opponent."
Williams also glided past her second round competition for an easy win. She continued to look unflappable as she beat her opponent, Caroline Garcia, 6-1, 6-2.
"It's important for me to win easily," she told AP reporters. "It's also important for me to play well. If I play well, it will bode well for me at Roland Garros."
The second round was yet another demonstration of Williams' resurgence into the tennis spotlight. She's won 26 straight games now, and she's a favorite to win the French Open title.
"I'd love to improve everything. My French too," she told fans in French, laughing.
Varvara Lepchenko also reached the third round on Wednesday by defeating Elina Svitolina 7-6 (5), 6-1. Jamie Hampton also won her first career French Open victory, upsetting No. 25 Lucie Safarova 7-6 (5), 3-6, 9-7.
You can view the full list of Wednesday's results HERE.
