Federer races to victory against Seppi at Paris Masters

Roger Federer raced into the third round of the Paris Masters with an exhilarating display of attacking tennis on Wednesday, thrashing Italian Andreas Seppi of Italy 6-1, 6-1 in just 47 minutes.

Seppi had a glimpse of a chance, but failed to convert four break points on Federer’s opening service game of the second set.

It was Federer’s 13th win in 14 matches against Seppi, who knocked him out in the third round of the Australian Open this year for his lone victory against the Swiss star.

Federer sealed victory with a brilliant shot, even by his high standards a sliced backhand drop with so much spin that it eluded Seppi just before he could reach it.

Murray beat 18-year-old Croat Borna Coric 6-1, 6-2, while Nadal defeated Czech qualifier Lukas Rosol 6-2, 6-2.

Murray will next play 16th-seeded David Goffin of Belgium, who beat Dusan Lajovic of Serbia 6-2, 6-2.

Nadal was in trouble when he played Rosol in the first round of the Swiss Indoors last week, with the Czech serving for victory at 5-4.

Nadal broke Rosol in the second game and held for 3-0 after saving a break point the only one he faced in the match.

He clinched the first set when Rosol’s wild, two-handed backhand sailed wide, and then earned the victory on his second match point when Rosol’s forehand went wide.

Nadal next plays 11th-seeded Kevin Anderson of South Africa, after he beat Dominic Thiem of Austria 6-7 (3), 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5) in a match lasting 2 hours, 45 minutes that finished at 12:26 a.m.