The four-times champion wobbled briefly in the inter-generational battle when the 24-year-old nicknamed “Baby Fed” pulled off his best impression of the Swiss master to capture the second set under a closed roof at Rod Laver Arena. “Like when I reached 1,000 [tour-level wins] past year, it was a big deal for me – not something I ever aimed for or looked for, but when it happens, it’s very special”.
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Meanwhile, Federer has said he has no plans to coerce his children into being tennis players and would rather they played another sport. “I thought I was struggling a little bit”.
Seppi ousted Federer in the third round past year, but is 0-11 against Djokovic. Federer vs. Dimitrov was considered one of the top potential early-round matchups and it did not disappoint, but Federer was in the driver’s seat for much of the match.
Kei Nishikori had some trouble with his wrist, taking a medical timeout and losing the next set before recovering to reach the fourth round at the Australian Open with a 7-5, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 win Friday over No. 26-seeded Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.
The closest he came to notching up the title was a year ago when he was pipped by world no. 1 Novak Djokovic to the Wimbledon and the US Open title.
Things stayed on course for Djokovic to have an early meeting with No. 3 Roger Federer, as he found his way past his third round opponent on the day as well. He breezed through the third set and refused to give in during the final set.
As for Sharapova, who won the third-round match 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-0, she sticks to energy bars and gels for her on-court snacking.
The Swiss all-time Grand Slam record holder said he could not see any of his four kids playing on Rod Laver Arena at a future Australian Open.
Federer’s lone break won him the first set and Dimitrov reversed the act in the second. He’ll next play 2008 Australian Open finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who beat fellow Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-4, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (4). Play finally began on some outdoor courts after more than a six-hour delay, and seven doubles matches were postponed.
He sought courtside treatment from the trainer several times during the match.
Elsewhere, fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska reeled off nine straight games as she obliterated Monica Puig 6-4 6-0, despite continuing pain from a left-leg injury that stopped her competing in Sydney last week.
“It is a little, from time to time”, conceded Federer, when asked whether facing Dimitrov was like playing a mirror.
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Defending and six-time champion Serena Williams taught a teenager a few lessons in the following match on centre court, racing to a 6-1, 6-1 win in 45 minutes over 18-year-old Russian Daria Kasatkina.
