Federer: I’m quite confident

 

Originally published on: 01/06/13 00:00

The 17-time Grand Slam champion fired down 38 winners and seven aces to see off Benneteau 6-3 6-4 7-5 in just 91 minutes and avenge his loss to the Frenchman in Rotterdam earlier in the year.

"It was clear that he was not 100 percent right from the start," Federer said of Benneteau, who was struggling with a groin injury.

"I even expected him to pull out at one point. It was also windy and he was not playing the way he usually plays. So it was a little bit tricky for me."

The world No.3 joins Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and David Ferrer as the only players on the bottom half of the draw through to the fourth round without dropping a set. 

"I'm happy because I have not used much of my energy so far," said Federer. "I'm still there in the tournament, and therefore, I think I can perhaps go deep in the tournament.

“I feel totally relaxed,” he added. “Mentally I'm okay. I'm quite confident. I can feel it, which is what you need to be if you want to go deep and have good results here at Roland Garros.”

The 2009 champion is just one victory away from reaching 900 career wins. Standing between him and the landmark is No.15 seed Gilles Simon, who recovered from two sets to one down to see off American Sam Querrey.

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