Federer advances at Monte Carlo Masters
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-04-15 10:23

Off to the best start to an ATP season in 21 years, Roger Federer extended his winning streak to 25 Thursday with a three-set victory over Fernando Gonzalez at the Monte Carlo Masters.

The top-ranked Swiss star dropped a set but still beat the Chilean 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-4 to improve his record to 35-1 this year. John McEnroe started the 1984 season with 39 straight wins.

Roger Federer of Switzerland returns a backhand to Fernando Gonzalez of Chile during their third round match at the Monte Carlo Open Tennis tournament in Monaco, Thursday April 14, 2005. Federer won 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-4.[AP]

Federer has won 18 straight finals and is trying to capture his third straight Masters title. His only loss this year came in the Australian Open semifinals to Marat Safin, who was beaten by Juan Carlos Ferrero in a late match Thursday.

In the other late match, Rafael Nadal easily beat Olivier Rochus of Belgium 6-1, 6-2.

Earlier, defending champion Guillermo Coria and French Open winner Gaston Gaudio reached the last eight of the $2.7 million clay-court event. Coria, seeded sixth, beat Alberto Martin of Spain 7-6 (0), 6-1, and Gaudio, seeded fourth, topped Victor Hanescu of Romania 6-2, 6-0.

Federer was leading 6-5 in the second set when a shot by Gonzalez was called out, giving him an apparent match point. But Federer said the shot was in and agreed to replay the point, which Gonzalez then won.

Gonzalez went on to win the set in a tiebreaker. Federer broke Gonzalez in the seventh game of the final set.

"I played well but couldn't close out the match," Federer said. "It's a bit worrying but if I keep on winning it's OK."

Federer will face Richard Gasquet in the quarterfinals. The 18-year-old Frenchman upset 10th-seeded Nikolay Davydenko of Russia 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.

"He looks like a good player. He is similar to me," Federer said, referring to Gasquet. "People expected too much of him too soon, so I can sympathize with what he went through."

Safin smashed a racket and argued with himself throughout his loss to former French Open champion Ferrero.

"I didn't take my chances when I had chances to break him," Safin said. "I'm trying to adapt to clay. Today I came up against a real clay-court player."

Coria and Gaudio played each other in the French Open final last year, and the Argentines could meet in the Monte Carlo final. Gaudio beat Coria in five sets last year at Roland Garros, but Coria is hoping for a better ending this time.

"This is the objective this season," Coria said. "Every player dreams of winning a Grand Slam and I'm trying to prepare my dream."

Filippo Volandri of Italy overcame cramps, elbow pain and an injured knee to beat Mariano Puerta of Argentina 6-7 (6), 7-6 (3), 6-4. David Ferrer of Spain advanced when Mariano Zabaleta of Argentina limped off with a bad ankle. Ferrer was trailing 6-3, 0-1.

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