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PAINFUL EXIT: Rafael Nadal being treated for cramps in his left arm. He later retired from the match. -- PHOTO: AP
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CINCINNATI - ON A day of devastation for favourites at the ATP Cincinnati Masters, world No 1 Roger Federer rebounded from a loss in the Montreal final.
He took out his frustrations on France's Julien Benneteau, pounding into the third round with a gold-standard 6-3, 6-3 win on Wednesday.
The Swiss star was denied his 50th career title on Sunday, when he went down to Serb Novak Djokovic in the Montreal Masters.
Federer had won the title two years ago, but went down in a shock upset 12 months ago to Britain's Andy Murray.
It was one of only five defeats last season for the Swiss, who was scheduled to play Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus yesterday.
Baghdatis defeated Juan Ignacio Chela 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 6-2 in another late match in Cincinnati.
Meanwhile, Spanish ace Rafael Nadal joined Djokovic on the sidelines, as the leading seeds made shock exits in the second round.
Said Federer: 'I'm happy I'm the guy who got through. The court here is much quicker than Montreal.
'I find this court always a struggle from the baseline. I tried to come in to the net more than usual. It was a good game plan.'
Argentinian Juan Monaco benefited from the injured Nadal's misfortune, winning 7-6 (7-5), 4-1 after 98 minutes.
The world No 2 Nadal had received treatment for cramps in his left arm at the start of the second set.
He said: 'It was stupid to continue playing because I felt I couldn't do anything. I was feeling worse and getting more dizzy. It's stupid suffering on court for nothing.'
Djokovic, the world No 3 who became the first man to beat Federer and Nadal in the same event last week, lost his momentum as he fell 4-6, 1-6 to Spain's Carlos Moya.
Said Djokovic: 'I didn't get any returns in and Moya was really putting a lot of pressure. He was very consistent and I made a lot of unforced errors.'
Sixth seed Fernando Gonzalez and eighth seed Richard Gasquet also fell.
Juan Carlos Ferrero, a 2006 finalist, stunned Chilean Gonzalez 6-2, 7-6 (9-7), and Gasquet retired with hand blisters to give Lleyton Hewitt a 6-1, 3-2 triumph.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
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