Federer hopes to go all the way again

Australian Open

Defending champion Roger Federer sailed into the second round of the Australian Open on Tuesday with a straight sets win over Aljaz Bedene.

The 19-time Grand Slam winner beat Bedene 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 in one hour and 39 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.

Federer, who is looking for his sixth title at Melbourne Park, was never troubled by the Slovenian as he broke once in both the first and second set and twice in the third to claim a comfortable win.

The victory took the world No 2’s record at the Australian Open to 88-13, and next up for the 36-year-old is Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff.

Federer is one of the favourites to win the title along with world No 1 Rafael Nadal, who has struggled with injury in the build-up to the first Grand Slam of the year, but the veteran says his rival is on good shape.

“I’m hoping for it to go well again. I don’t know if it can go as well again. I’m a year older,” he said.

“Rafa is in tip top shape. Last year could have been my favourite year of my whole career.”

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