PARIS — Roger Federer dispatched Spain’s Marcel Granollers 6-2, 7-6 (7-1), 6-3 on Wednesday to win his 63rd match at the French Open and stay on pace with Rafael Nadal in the Roland Garros victory chase.
There was a major upset on the women’s side as No. 3 seed and 2014 finalist Simona Halep was beaten 7-5, 6-1 by Mirjana Lucic-Baroni.
The 33-year-old Croatian, who sat out six years of her career during the previous decade, last won a Paris match in 2002.
While sixth-seeded Nadal has dominated with nine titles from his past 10 appearances, it was Federer who won the clay grand slam trophy in 2009, the only year that Nadal lost a match.
The Spaniard reached the second round this week with his 67th win, with Federer just behind in the count. Any slip by Nadal at this edition and he could find himself trailing Federer in total Paris match wins.
Federer, the second seed, won his fourth match over Granollers as they met for the first time on clay.
“It was a very tough match, I had to work hard,” said Federer, a 17-time grand slam champion. “He plays a really varied game and can do a lot with it.
“I’m very satisfied with this win, it’s good to get it in three sets also.
“Things went well for me for the first couple of sets, I think I was in control. Even though I was down a break in the second, I still felt the match was in my racquet. When you feel that way, obviously you’re always going to feel more confident, more comfortable.
Stan Wawrinka, seeded eighth, joined in with a victory as he defeated Dusan Lajovic 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 with 11 aces, 53 winners and breaks on eight of 20 chances.
“It was a good win for me,” Wawrinka said. “In general I started well, played well. I had some trouble with my serve, but that’s it. I’m happy to get through one more match.”
Wawrinka will next face surprise American Steve Johnson, who put out Sergiy Stakhovsky 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (8-6), while Federer takes on unknown quantity Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia-Herzegovina, who beat former Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.
Fourth-seeded Tomas Berdych won a Czech battle with Radek Stepanek 6-3, 6-7 (7-9), 6-3, 6-3.
French 12th seed Gilles Simon, who was worried over a back injury a week ago, advanced over Martin Klizan 7-5, 6-2, 6-3. He was joined by compatriots as 13th seed Gael Monfils beat Diego Schwartzman 4-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 and number 14 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beat Dudi Sela 6-4, 6-1, 6-1.
In the women’s draw, title holder Maria Sharapova moved through without complaint with a 6-3, 6-1 hammering of fellow Russian Vitalia Diatchenko.
The five-time grand slam winner will next face resurgent 2010 finalist Samantha Stosur in the third round after the Australian rolled past France’s Amandine Hesse 6-0, 6-1.
“She’s always a tough opponent, who enjoys playing on clay,” Sharapova said of Stosur. “It will be a tough match. But I have a pretty good (14-2) record against her.”
German No. 11 Angelique Kerber defeated Ajla Tomljanovic 6-3, 6-2 while 13th-seeded Lucie Safarova beat Kurumi Nara 6-2, 6-0.