Melbourne, Jan 23 (DPA) Roger Federer strolled to his 50th match victory at the Australian Open Saturday as the three-time champion overwhelmed Spain’s Albert Montanes 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 for a place in the fourth round.
Top seeded Federer 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 world number one finished with a forehand winner into the corner after less than two hours.
“He’s tough, I’ve played on him on clay,” Federer said. “I expected him to miss more on this faster court.
“I had to serve well, if I had any hiccups on serve it could have been a close match. I’m happy to be through of course.
“I feel good, I feel confident. As the draw goes forward the opponents get tougher,” he added.
“I’m mentally and physically fresh – that’s how you want to feel going into the second week of a Grand Slam.”
With his own win wrapped up by mid-afternoon, the Swiss world number one had the chance to relax as Lleyton Hewitt and Marcos Baghdatis did battle at night for the right to face Federer 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 end 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.
Poland’s Lukasz Kubot marked the most successful Grand Slam appearance of his career as he advanced when Russian Mikhail Youzhny withdrew before their match due to a right wrist injury.
“I’ve had treatment every day and have gone to the doctor every day,” Youzhny said.
“I have some anti-pain pills … I’ve done everything I can, but it doesn’t help,” the Russian said.
“It’s tough for me now because actually I’m playing well, I’m ready to play. But this is life sometimes. You have an injury and you have to pull out if you cannot play.”
Four women’s seeds led by holder Serena Williams all went through into the second week of the major.
Top seed Serena Williams was untroubled by Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro 6-0, 6-3 while seventh seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus defeated Italian Tathiana Garbin 6-0, 6-2.
Russia’s ninth seed Vera Zvonareva beat Argentine Gisela Dulko 6-1, 7-5 while 13th seed Samantha Stosur kept Australian hopes high as she defeated Alberta Brianti of Italy 6-4, 6-1.
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