Article recaps Federer's second round result from ATP Dubai and examines the draw ahead of the Swiss Maestro.
Roger Federer defeated Marcel Granollers on Wednesday 6-3, 6-4 in second round action from ATP Dubai. Federer, despite only serving at 57% in the match, was effective on his second serve and he saved both break points that he faced.
With the win Federer set up a third round match against Sergiy Stakhokvsky of the Ukraine, a player who defeated Ernests Gulbis in the second round.
Federer and Stakhovsky have never met before on tour and there is no head to head history to examine. But so far in 2011, Stakhovsky, ranked 43rd, does not have a noteworthy result and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (#33 at time of match) is the highest ranked opponent that Stakhovsky has beaten thus far this year.
Federer rarely loses to a player ranked as low as Stakhovsky and in 2010, Federer went undefeated against players outside of the top 40. It does not appear that Federer will be bothered in round three from Dubai, although there is an interesting match-up brewing in the semifinals.
In the other quarter in Federer's section of the draw, Gilles Simon and Richard Gasquet are set to meet. Should Simon best his fellow French national that would set up a Simon vs Federer semifinal and few will forget the entertaining match they played at the Australian Open in January.
The match at hand, Federer vs Stakhovsky, will be played on Thursday's evening session from Dubai with a stadium start not before 7pm Dubai time (GST).
