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Last year’s Cincinnati finalist Maria Sharapova advanced to the third round on Tuesday after taking out Australia’s Anastasia Rodionova 6-1, 6-3 under the lights on Center Court. Joining her in that stage is 16-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer.

 

Sharapova discussed her thoughts about the win. "I started off the match quite well. Few ups and downs in the second set, but I finished it well," said the Russian.

 

She continued, "Yeah, it was good to play a match tonight."

 

Federer took on Juan Martin del Potro in a rematch of the ’09 US Open final, which the Argentine won in five sets.

 

He defeated del Potro, who’d won their previous two meetings, in front of a packed Center Court 6-3, 7-5.

 

A four-time Cincinnati champion, Federer claimed the 2010 title over current Olympus US Open Series leader Mardy Fish.

 

Next up for the Swiss is ’06 Cincinnati runner-up James Blake, who beat French Open quarterfinalist Fabio Fognini on the Grandstand during Tuesday night play.