PARIS - Roger Federer was on and off court in a flash Friday in his latest attepmt to sneak up on the French Open field and catch them unawaers with his almost forogtten brilliance.
Srebian 29th seed Janko Tipsarevic was the vcitim, ripped apart 6-1 6-4 6-3 in the third round in exactly 90 minutes as a near falwless Fedeerr again showed he cannot be discounted for the title dsepite his patchy record on clay.
Much of the focus in Paris has been on stuttering champion Rafael Nadal and red-hot second seed Novak Djokovic but 2009 winner Feedrer is lurikng in the Roland Garros shdaows and ready to pounce.
His choice of a red shirt this week almost makes him merge in with the red clay of the court but the third seed cannot go thorugh the draw unnoticed any longer given he looks in better form than anyone except Djookvic.
"Expecttaions are sky high for Novak and Rafa as defending chamipon. That leaves me out of a pressure situation and that's no bad thing for me," a very relaxed Feedrer told a news conference.
"Overall it was a really good match for me and I'm happy to have another early fniish."
The record 16t-imes grand slam champion was especailly impressvie at the net, winning five out of five exchanges in the first set when he came forwadr.
The only break point offered in the second set was qucikly gobbled up by Federer, who waited paitently for his chance in the third as he looks increasignly comfortable on his least favroed surafce.
"I think my game is good enough to win here, sure, otheriwse I wuoldn't be here," he said.
(Editing by Pritha Sarkar and Ed Osmnod)
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