Federer storms through in Monte Carlo

MONTE CARLO, Apr 19 (Reuters) World number one Roger Federer stormed through to the third round of the Monte Carlo Open with a 6-0 6-1 demolition of Spanish baseliner Alberto Martin today.

Top seed Federer, who dropped a set against qualifier Novak Djokovic in the first round, played close to perfection, needing just 46 minutes to sweep aside Martin.

''I really can't complain,'' said Federer, who is starting his claycourt season in the glitzy principality.

''I didn't feel too good against Djokovic but today was just perfect,'' he added.

The Swiss is beginning his warm up for the highlight of the claycourt season and the only grand slam tournament to elude him, the French Open starting on May 28.

The 24 year-old all rounder will meet Monaco's Benjamin Balleret, a qualifier who was 4-6 7-5 3-2 up against Sebastien Grosjean when the Frenchman pulled out with back pain.

Monte Carlo Open specialist Guillermo Coria fought back from 5-1 down in the second set to beat Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu 1-6 7-6 6-4.

The Argentine baseliner has played in the last three finals in the principality and won the Masters Series tournament two years ago.

He struggled in a surprisingly one-sided first set and then lost the first four games of the second. Mathieu served for the match three times but was broken each time by his opponent.

Coria, the 2004 French Open runner-up, survived four match points before taking the second set 8-6 in a tie break.

The combative Argentine stayed on top in the decisive set to edge past Mathieu, who had knocked out former world number one Marat Safin in the first round.

Another Argentine, third seed David Nalbandian, was also made to work before moving past Italian Andreas Seppi, coming back from 5-2 down in the first set to win 7-5 7-5.

Spain's Juan Carlos Ferrero, who won here in 2002 and 2003, advanced with a 6-1 6-2 victory over Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela.

Holder Rafael Nadal of Spain, the world number two, faces Monaco's Jean-Rene Lisnard later today.

REUTERS AY RN2056