Reuters
Melbourne, Jan 22: A patient Roger Federer weathered a second set storm from Grigor Dimitrov before slapping down the Bulgarian challenger 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open and clinch his 300th win in Grand Slams. The Swiss became the first man to achieve this distinction.
“It definitely gives you a feeling of achievement,” Federer said after the match. “All things considered, I am still playing, still competing with the very best in the business. It is definitely very satisfying.”
Long in the shadow of the Swiss master, Dimitrov played some irresistible tennis to take a set but was powerless to maintain the intensity under a closed roof at Rod Laver Arena.
Federer, however, simply lifted a gear, from the third set taming an occasionally wayward forehand before speeding away from the Bulgarian player nicknamed ‘Baby Fed’.
Capturing an early break in the final set, four-time champion Federer sealed the match with an imperious forehand to set up a clash with another young gun in Belgian David Goffin.
Meanwhile, top seed Novak Djokovic also cruised into the fourth round while seventh seed Japanese Kei Nishikori overcame a wrist problem to set up a meeting with Frenchman Jo Wilfried Tsonga. The two had played an epic five-set quarterfinal here last year with Tsonga emerging victorious.
Djokovic started off well but had to raise his game a notch in the third set to overcome Italy’s Andreas Seppi 6-1, 7-5, 7-6(8-6).
The Serb raced through the first set easily, but in the second set had to play lengthy rallies of 22 and 32 shots to get the much needed break in the 11th game. In the third there were no breaks, but Djokovic was just that wee bit better in the tie-break to win it and the match.
Nishikori played down a problem with his right wrist after outlasting Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 7-5, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. The Japanese had some trouble with the joint in the early part of the match when his Spanish opponent mounted his sternest challenge but by the end of the two hour, 12 minute encounter, was playing at his free-flowing best.
