Melbourne, Jan 23 (DPA) The upset rate during week one of the Australian Open was reduced to a trickle Saturday as Roger Federer set the pace for seeds with a storming victory into the second week of the season’s first major.
The top-seeded Swiss was on fire – his lethal form starting to peak nicely – as he strolled to his 50th match win at the event, overwhelming Spain’s Albert Montanes 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 for a place in the fourth round.
Federer won on the day his twin daughters Charlene Riva and Myla Rose turned six months old.
“I don’t think we celebrate six-month birthdays for babies,” said the proud father and world number one player. “But if you put their ages together, they are one now … maybe we can have a little cake with one candle.”
The three-time winner is on the march to retrieve title honours after losing a tight final one year ago to Rafael Nadal. Victory over the 32nd-ranked Montanes nudged Federer’s career mark at Melbourne Park to 50 wins, seven losses.
Federer’s performance was flawless, with nine aces and 42 winners. He broke Montanes three times and never faced a break point in the easy outing. The number one finished with a forehand winner into the corner after less than two hours.
“I dominated from my side with serve, which allowed me then to take chances on the return,” said the winner of a “pretty straightforward match”.
“It was tough to play. He was playing tough from the baseline and making it hard for me. I’m happy with the match and was able to serve it out, so it was good.
“So far it’s been great. I’m happy the way I’m feeling. Obviously you’ll elevate your game gradually as the opponents get harder, so I’m happy the way I feel.
“I’m mentally and physically fresh – that’s how you want to feel going into the second week of a Grand Slam.”
There was another easy victory for third seed and 2008 champion Novak Djokovic, who crushed Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan 6-1, 6-1, 6-2.
It was an identical story for on-form Nikolay Davydenko, through to the last 16 with the loss of just seven games as he put out Argentine Juan Monaco 6-0, 6-3, 6-4.
The Russian improved his current winning streak to a dozen matches in succession.
“It’s difficult to say why it’s happening. Maybe it’s good. I was feeling much better concentration.”
Two men went through without much opposition, Pole Lukasz Kubot advancing to his best-ever Grand Slam showing when Russian Mikhail Youzhny had to quit before their start with a wrist injury; Spanish ninth-seed Fernando Verdasco requiring a mere 23-minute effort before Australian Stefan Koubek stopped trailing 6-1 after feeling ill with fever.
The win throws Verdasco up against Davydenko. “It’s not bad to win fast and have a day more to recover. The next round is gonna be so difficult.”
With his own win wrapped up by mid-afternoon, Federer was able to relax as Lleyton Hewitt and Marcos Baghdatis did battle at night for the right to face him in the next round.
Hewitt, a 2005 finalist and Cypriot Baghdatis both have a proud Melbourne history, with Hewitt winning a third-round match at the event in 2008 which did not ended until 4.30 a.m.
Baghdatis is a darling of the large Cypriot community in multi-cultural Melbourne since losing the 2006 final to the Swiss. Should Federer face Hewitt, it will be the 25th meeting between the all-star pair in a rivalry dating back 11 years.
Women’s seeds had it sweet, with both Williams sisters advancing with minimal effort.
Holder Serena handled Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro 6-0, 6-3 while Venus put paid to Aussie hopes as she defeated Casey Dellacqua 6-1, 7-6 (7-4).
Seventh-seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus defeated Italian Tathiana Garbin 6-0, 6-2.
Russian ninth-seed Vera Zvonareva beat Argentine Gisela Dulko 6-1, 7-5 while 13th seed Samantha Stosur kept Australian hopes alive as she defeated Alberta Brianti of Italy 6-4, 6-1.
rounak