World number three Roger Federer cruised into the Australian Open third round with a smooth, straight-sets win over practice partner Aleksandr Dolgopolov on Wednesday.
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The four-time Australian Open champion, playing his 65th consecutive major, advanced 6-3, 7-5, 6-1 over Alexandr Dolgopolov.
The 24-year-old, who won both the Wimbledon and US Open Juniors titles in 2008, is thus clearly a player of enormous potential, and while one could have perhaps accused him of losing focus after the heights of 2014 (the publicity surrounding his high-profile and ill-fated relationship with WTA star Maria Sharapova did his tennis little good), the manner in which Dimitrov warmed-up for the Australian Open by reaching the final of the ATP Sydney last weekend suggests that he has gotten his head firmly back in the game.
Given Federer’s Grand Slam pedigree, the Swiss maestro was hardly impressed when informed of the streak, instead more pleased to have simple navigated his way past Dolgopolov.
The final set was largely one-way traffic as the No. 3 seed went on to win 6-3 7-5 6-1.
Federer cracked 25 aces and did not face a break point over the course of the 93-minute encounter.
“I know him very well”.
“Very happy, conditions are extremely quick”, he said.
“I will support them all the way whatever they want to do, but I don’t see myself doing that right now”, Federer said about the idea of following his children around the professional tennis tour. “He’s got the game to be really risky”. “He’s fit enough for a five-setter, so, yeah, I mean, [got to] definitely bring my best game to the court”.
Djokovic beat French promising talent Quentin Halys 6-1, 6-2, 7-6 (7-3). I only think good things about it. I didn’t say it in a negative way.
Though Federer actually accounted for more unforced errors than his opponent (55-44), he still managed to lead Dimitrov in almost every other statistical category, finishing with more than twice as many winners (48-23) and, most importantly, limiting Dimitrov to just six break chances and letting him convert on just one of those opportunities. Last year, he was knocked out by Andreas Seppi in four sets in third round creating a huge uproar over his form and consistency.
Dominic Thiem, David Goffin, Frenchmen Gilles Simon and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Czech Tomas Berdych, Marin Cilic, Grigor Dimitrov have also qualified for the third round.
“Tennis is a handsome (sport)”, the Canadian said after winning his first-round match.
In the men’s draw, Japanese roadrunner Kei Nishikori slowly wore down American opponent and close friend – Austin Krajicek, recording another straight sets win (6-3, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3).
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“I haven’t. It’s a bit farfetched, all these things”, he said.
