Federer hopes to go all the way again
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.
The defending champion is through to the second round!@rogerfederer with his 88th win at the #AusOpen.
?????? pic.twitter.com/5dWZ4rNRUE
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 16, 2018
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.”
Latest
-
ATP TourMadrid Open set to be cancelled due to surge in coronavirus cases in Spanish capital
Madrid Open on the verge of being cancelled.
-
WTA TourAustralian Open champion Sofia Kenin ‘ready and in shape’ ahead of the tennis restart
Sofia Kenin ready to get going again.
-
US OpenAndy Murray ‘willing to take a risk’ at US Open as he looks to make up for lost time at Grand Slams
Andy Murray eager to play at US Open.
-
US OpenAlexander Zverev on US Open: ‘I might not to go there if I don’t feel safe, my team doesn’t feel safe’
Alexander Zverev remains undecided about US Open.
-
Tennis News‘I feel like we deserved to win that match,’ says Andy Murray after win with Naomi Broady
“It is a good one to get through,” says Andy Murray.
-
Tennis NewsKyle Edmund sets sights on US Open after ending Battle of the Brits with a win
Kyle Edmund makes short work of Jan Choinski.
-
Tennis News‘I’m just going to try to enjoy myself, says Petra Martic ahead of Palermo Ladies Open
The WTA Tour resumes on Monday in Sicily.
-
US Open‘It hurts me at my core,’ says Nick Kyrgios as he pulls out of US Open over coronavirus concerns
Nick Kyrgios says decision “hurts me at my core”.
-
-
Tennis NewsPlayer tests positive for Covid-19 at Ladies Palermo Open
Unnamed player has withdrawn from WTA Tour event.