Australian Open - Men: Federer safely through

Eurosport - Tue, 20 Jan 07:19:00 2009

Roger Federer took his first step towards a record-equalling 14th Grand Slam title with a 6-1 7-6 7-5 victory over Italy's Andreas Seppi in the first round of the Australian Open in Melbourne.

TENNIS 2009 Australian Open Federer (1R) - 0

Federer proved he was in good touch, producing an audacious overarm forehand in the fifth game. He first turned and then while running at full speed glanced over his shoulder to see Seppi's positioning as the Italian approached the net and then passed him down the line.

The shot drew a sustained round of applause from the crowd and a wry grin from the 27-year-old Swiss.

Seppi produced a better performance in the second set, holding a set point on Federer's serve at 6-5, though as the pair traded shots down the line both appealed each other's shot with Seppi's adjudged out on television review to return the score to deuce and his advantage was lost.

While the Italian traded shot for shot with Federer in some long rallies during the tie-break, the second seed took a decisive 3-1 break that he extended before sealing the set 7-4.

Seppi again refused to be intimidated and on several occasions matched Federer, though his ultimate failure was converting break points when he had the opportunity.

Five times Seppi could have broken serve and possibly forced the match into a fourth set, and on five occassions Federer held him off.

Federer held a match point in the 10th game but was unable to convert and then two further chances in the 12th, one of which he sent long while Seppi saved the other with a powerful forehand cross-court winner.

The former world number one, however, was not to be held off any longer and when he set up his fourth match point he sealed victory when Seppi sent a backhand over the baseline.

Federer will next meet Russian qualifier Evgeny Korolev, who upset former world number one Carlos Moya of Spain 6-3 6-1 7-6.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic held his nerve and ensured he did not become the first Australian Open men's champion since 1996 to get knocked out in the first round with a 6-2 6-3 7-5 victory over a spirited Andrea Stoppini.

Djokovic romped away with the first set, but had to battle back from early deficits in the final two sets as the Italian attempted to become the first player to beat the champion in the first round since Carlos Moya beat Boris Becker 13 years ago.

Djokovic raced away with the first set before the 220th-ranked Stoppini, who had to qualify for the main draw and was making his Grand Slam debut, jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the second.

The 21-year-old Djokovic then reeled off the next five games to take the second set, though his momentum was halted when he was broken in the first game of the third set and Stoppini raced away to a 4-0 lead.

Undaunted, the world number three fought back again and recovered to 4-3 before the Italian held serve to move within one game of taking the contest to a fourth set.

Stoppini was unable to close out the set, however, and Djokovic rattled off the next four games to seal victory in 115 minutes and set up a second-round clash with France's Jeremy Chardy, who beat Daniel Marcos of Brazil 6-4 6-4 6-1.

Seventh seed Andy Roddick wasted little time advancing to the second round with a 6-0 6-2 6-2 demolition of Sweden's Bjorn Rehnquist.

Roddick continued to display the form that took him to the final of the Doha tournament in Qatar earlier this month, breaking the 31-year-old qualifier at will and using his booming service game to smash nine aces and claim victory in 105 minutes.

Rehnquist, who was cheered loudly by a small group of boisterous Swedish fans, saved the first match point with a smash, but Roddick was not to be denied on the next point when his opponent hit a backhand into the net.

The 26-year-old Roddick, who made just 10 unforced errors to Rehnquist's 37, will meet Belgian Xavier Malisse who demolished France's Michael Llodra 7-6 6-1 6-1

Local spirits were lifted by Bernard Tomic who made a spectacular Grand Slam entrance, becoming the youngest male in professional tennis to win a match at the Open.

The Gold Coast teenager sent local fans into a frenzy by mashing Potito Starace 7-6 1-6 7-6 7-6.

At 16 years and 89 days old, Tomic is 94 days younger than fellow Australian Todd Woodbridge was when he beat American John Letts in the opening round at Melbourne Park in 1988.

Tomic, playing in sunglasses and wearing a headband, demonstrated composure beyond his years with his win over Starace, ranked 73rd.

He won the opening set in a tie-breaker then kept his cool after losing the second to win another two tie-breakers, saving two set points in the fourth to seal victory.

Tomic also has the advantage of a second-round match against Luxembourg's Gilles Muller, who was on court for nearly four-and-a-half hours in his five-set win against Spanish 27th seed Feliciano Lopez.

2005 champion Marat Safin destroyed Ivan Navarro of Spain 6-3 6-3 6-4.

The 2005 champion and 26th seed completed the demolition in one hour and 45 minutes to set up a meeting with another Spaniard, Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.

But 11th seed David Ferrer struggled through in five sets against Germany journeyman Denis Gremelmayr.

Argentinian hotshot Juan Martin Del Potro also made it through along with 2006 finalist Marcos Baghdatis and rising Croatian star Marin Cilic.

See the Australian Open live from the opening match through to the final on February 1st on the Eurosport Player. Access live action each day from up to five different courts in Melbourne and catch up on the big games through video on demand. Click on the link under the picture to subscribe.

AFP / Reuters

Comment 8 - 27 of 27

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  1. Nadal wins easily against a "dwarf" with no power/no big weapons,so it's hard to comment Rafa's performance/Murray wins after one set and a half,same statement/Come on Roger but be more consistent next time...45 winners,it's great, but 45 unforced errors in three sets,it is not!Go Rogerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr rrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From Jeremy, on Tue 20 Jan 7:11PM

  2. I am an open-mineded single girl who love sports. I want to end my single life by meeting
    a guy who likes sports too. Let's mingle at the club ___ kISs M ill iona ireS Co m __

    From cherrylr33ds, on Tue 20 Jan 12:25AM

  3. anyone know at what time nadal tips off ?

    From gam, on Mon 19 Jan 11:54PM

  4. Watched the match today on the computer. Whilst Fed did not play brilliantly all of the time he did not need to. No matter if he wins or looses he is still my number 1.
    Go Federer and do your best. People are so quick to criticize others when I am sure that they cannot do better themselves.

    From caroline c, on Mon 19 Jan 11:27PM

  5. JEXBJ POST 13
    YOU ARE SO UNSTABLE IN YOUR OBSESSION FOR ROGER FEDERER THAT YOU
    ARE RIGHT OF THE PAGE. A TOTAL DERANGED NUTCASE.
    ALISON.

    From Nicholas, on Mon 19 Jan 9:19PM

  6. clispydick :-)

    From Igor K, on Mon 19 Jan 7:47PM

  7. Federer had by far the toughest opponent from the big 4. An in-form 24y old number 35 in the rankings is quiet unusual at the start for a 2nd seed. Seppi is currently enjoying his best tennis on the tour and could pose serious difficulties to all players outside the big4. His next opponent can prove to be even tougher. The young Korolev obviously has put a game together that could look threatening to inconsistent Federer. Then follows eventually Marat and further on the Del Potro ball machine. Federer has this time clearly a very tough draw. However as tough as it is it can also boost his confidence. If you beat the no 35 at the start in straights, then you get more confidence for what follows.

    From sens0r_X, on Mon 19 Jan 7:31PM

  8. Not the most easy oponent for a first round match, and the first match in a tournament is never easy so we may say that roger has done what it took to win! Dont expect the magnificent play already! Lets expect that in the 3rd or 4th round all the big aces get their claws out!
    This evening Nadal kicks out for the tournament, surelly Rochus will not be a barrier for LA FURIA of Rafa!
    I hope he can take the tittle and run away with his leadership!!!

    From tiagomarcelino, on Mon 19 Jan 6:30PM

  9. WHAT GREAT AND ENCOURAGING COMMENTS ALISON.
    LOVE ALISON.

    From Nicholas, on Mon 19 Jan 6:11PM

  10. Seems he is famous on some ta ll da ting place ____T allMingle Co M___ where are many hot models and handsome guys. Many tall singles find their lovers there

    From bigtallo24, on Mon 19 Jan 6:08PM

  11. COME ON ROGER YOU CAN DO IT PROVE EVERYONE WRONG AND LIFT THE TROPHY. I SUPPORT YOU GO ROGER GO.
    ALISON.

    From AJ, on Mon 19 Jan 4:54PM

  12. worlds most boring sport, played with people who have got personality by- passes!

    From skyrmel, on Mon 19 Jan 4:53PM

  13. Go Roger !
    Come On .. You can win AO ! And you will ! xD
    good luck champ :)

    pucoman87..i think that you don`t know anything about tennis if you say something like that

    From Julie, on Mon 19 Jan 3:56PM

  14. i was almost gonna turn my tv off just because I couldn't stand mats wilander's commentary. It's not just he likes his style of play but he talks as if he's in love with federer. he even called sampras and agassi "boring" just praise roger a little bit more. Even the double faults of Seppi were because of "magnificent" Roger,according to Mats. ok,he can say whatever he wants of course but he's blinded by his love of Roger: he said that Roger played a perfect match today and this was an evidence that he's still the best.
    Be an objective commentator,Mats! I know you love Roger but see the facts:he didn't play well today. He was so blind at last year's Roland Garros that he claimed Roger would finally beat Rafa! Next time,I'm gonna watch with volume off!!!

    From cero, on Mon 19 Jan 3:54PM

  15. Not very convincing today Federer,but for sure he's gonna play better as the tournament progresses.Come on ROGERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!! :D Jess X

    From Jeremy, on Mon 19 Jan 3:30PM

  16. pucoman87: wishfull thinking!

    From ya, on Mon 19 Jan 3:21PM

  17. It was a first round match against a rather strong oponent. It is not like he has been playing some qualifier from Top 200. And remember they met just 2 weeks ago in Doha. Seppi was a bit shocked in the first set, that happens, later he came up again to fight against weak Federer's serve. Korolev is next. I believe Federer will show up some more easyness then...

    From risimko, on Mon 19 Jan 2:55PM

  18. I can just see the smile on the journalists face as he spotted the "by mashing Potito" pun. Nice one. It tickled me. Open season on puns will really begin if and when Mardy Fish gets thru' a few rounds. Will he be reeling in opponents or will they be letting him off the hook. We'll have to wait...with baited breath...to find out. Cheers

    From rhymes450, on Mon 19 Jan 2:40PM

  19. I think he is loosing focus more often then before. His mind is fading as matches progress. If u look at his last matches he always win the first set but becomes vunerable afterword. If he sorts out his mental problems he'll be unbeatable once again.

    From mauricechlela, on Mon 19 Jan 2:17PM

  20. I am a big Federer fan. I saw the match today he has unbelievable shots and also unbelievable errors to face the fact i think he won't this AO .
    Once he meet seeded player can make benfit by his errors he will ..... I hope he can minimize his unforced errors quickly
    If anyone has different point of view say it

    From ola azmy, on Mon 19 Jan 2:08PM
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