ugc_banner

Roger Federer through to Australian Open third round

WION Web Team
New York, NY, USAUpdated: Jan 16, 2019, 12:06 PM IST
main img
File photo of Switzerland's Roger Federer. Photograph:(Reuters)

Story highlights

Federer will play either France's Gael Monfils, seeded 30, or American Taylor Fritz in the last 32.

Defending champion Roger Federer reached the Australian Open third round after defeating for a 20th straight year on Wednesday. 

But the Swiss master was made to battle all the way by Britain's Dan Evans before winning 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/3), 6-3.

Having thrashed Denis Istomin in his Melbourne Park opener, third seed Federer encountered far stiffer resistance against the determined world number 189 Evans, who is rebuilding his career after missing a year due to a doping suspension.

Evans broke Federer for the first time in the tournament to drag the second set into a tiebreak but the Swiss was supreme on the clutch points at Rod Laver Arena. 

×

The 20-time Grand Slam champion, who is going for a record seventh Melbourne Park title and third in a row, had breezed past Denis Istomin in the first round, but was given a much tougher examination by the world number 189. 

He broke Evans in the fourth game of the third set and closed out the match with an imperious backhand winner down the line to set up a clash with either Gael Monfils or Taylor Fritz.