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By Chris Oddo | Thursday, April 17, 2014

 
Roger Federer, Monte-Carlo

Roger Federer turned up the style, and tuned out the doubt, to race past Lukas Rosol for his tour-leading 26th victory on Thursday in Monte-Carlo.

Photo Source: Julian Finney/ Getty

Through six games, Roger Federer's bid to reach the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters quarterfinals looked to be in jeopardy as an in-form Lukas Rosol was taking the play to the Swiss maestro.

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But unlike 2013, when a lack of health and confidence often prevented Federer from wiggling out of tense situations, Federer had an answer for his opponent's challenge—and then some.

Displaying vintage form, Federer rallied to take 10 of the final 11 games from the hard-hitting Czech, turning a tense match into a 6-4, 6-1 laugher.

Federer's tour-leading 26th victory of 2014 sets up a popcorn quarterfinal clash with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Friday. Tsonga, who defeated Federer on clay in last year's Roland Garros quarterfinals, took down Fabio Fognini on Thursday, 5-7, 6-3, 6-0.

Federer saved a break point in the first game against Rosol, but he would find more trouble in his next service game when he double-faulted to hand the world No. 47 a 2-1 lead.

The 17-time Grand Slam champion would have to bide his time against Rosol, but a scissor-handed volley at the net would give the Swiss his first break point of the match in the eighth game. He did not miss, cranking a forehand drive that Rosol could not handle at the net, and the set was level.

Federer never looked back from there. He took the next eight points, holding to love than then breaking to love to seal the set, and raced thought the second set swiftly to clinch the victory in a crisp 57:31.

Federer finished the day converting on each of the four break points he saw. He struck 24 winners against 18 unforced, and made good on 15 of his 16 forays to the net.

More important, he was able to escape a precarious situation against a hard-hitting, in-form player in the first set. Federer turned up his game, and tuned out the doubt, to win in impressive fashion on Thursday.

 

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