Federer to meet Roddick; Clijsters crashes

MIAMI – Roger Federer set up a 24th career meeting against old rival Andy Roddick on Saturday as both men eased through the Miami Masters second round, but crowd favorite Kim Clijsters crashed out of the women’s event.

Roger Federer. AFP FILE PHOTO

Third-seeded Federer, who has a 21-2 record against world number 34 Roddick, recorded his 23rd win of 2012 by beating 19-year-old American wild card Ryan Harrison 6-2, 7-6 (7/3).

“I felt like I had to win the match like three times at the end, so I was relieved to come through,” Federer said. “And beating an American in America is always a big deal, because this is here where they usually play their very best.”

The Swiss superstar is bidding to capture his third Indian Wells-Miami title double, having also won the back-to-back US hard court Masters events in 2005 and 2006.

Federer has now won 40 of his past 42 matches since the 2011 US Open semi-finals.

“I guess I’m more confident now. I have been playing really nice as of late,” Federer said.

Roddick, the number 31 seed and 2004 and 2010 champion in Miami, dropped nine points on his serve and hit 10 aces to beat Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller 6-3, 6-2.

The American, who is at his lowest ranking since July 2001, won in 74 minutes.

Fifth seed David Ferrer, who reached the 2005 and 2006 semi-finals, converted four of 10 break-point opportunities to beat 19-year-old Australian Bernard Tomic 6-4, 6-4.

France’s Gael Monfils defeated Ukrainian qualifier Sergei Bubka – the boyfriend of women’s number one, Victoria Azarenka – 6-4, 6-4 in 78 minutes.

Monfils next faces Argentine 21st seed Juan Monaco.

In the women’s event, former world number one Clijsters saved three match points but lost 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) to Belgian compatriot Yanina Wickmayer, the 23rd seed, in the third round.

“She definitely started off much better and was more consistent throughout,” Clijsters said. “It was close. It’s a little bit frustrating knowing that I am playing not even 50 percent but it is still that close.”

“On one hand I could have beaten her with the way that I was playing and feeling, but she played good.”

Clijsters, who was playing her first tournament since an Australian Open semi-final defeat by Azarenka, had skipped last week’s Indian Wells tournament to rest her injured ankle.

The 28-year-old won the Miami event in 2005 and 2010.

American 10th seed Serena Williams breezed into the fourth round with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Italian number 21 seed Roberta Vinci.

Williams, who is playing her first tournament since a fourth-round exit at the Australian Open, will face either Australian sixth seed Samantha Stosur or South Africa’s Chanelle Scheepers for a place in the last eight.