Australian Open - Men: Easy for Federer

Eurosport - Fri, 23 Jan 21:11:00 2009

Roger Federer stayed on track for a record-equalling 14th Grand Slam title as he swatted aside former champion Marat Safin in the third round of the Australian Open in Melbourne.

TENNIS 2009 Australian Open Safin M. - Federer R. - 0

The anticipated clash of tennis juggernauts failed to materialise as the Swiss totally dominated the match between former world number ones to win 6-3 6-2 7-6 under floodlights.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic recovered from dropping his first set of the tournament to beat American Amer Delic 6-2 4-6 6-3 7-6.

The defending champion lost the second set after a brief lapse in concentration but regained his composure to win the next two, despite being pushed to a tiebreaker in the fourth.

Delic, who was promoted to the main draw as a lucky loser when Nicolas Kiefer pulled out, troubled the world number three with his booming serve but Djokovic's big-match experience proved decisive.

Djokovic's next opponent will be 97-ranked Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis, who disposed of 23-seeded American Mardy Fish in straight sets 6-2 6-4 6-4.

Fish made too many unforced errors, seeking to come in close far too often and giving away points as a result.

Backed by a vociferous following in the stands, Baghdatis - who, like Fish, struggled on his serve - took a more measured approach to seal the win.

Seventh seed Andy Roddick brought Fabrice Santoro's last Australian Open appearance to an end with a 6-3 6-4 6-2 victory.

The 36-year-old Frenchman, who was the oldest man in the main draw, has said that 2009 is his final year on the ATP Tour.

Roddick had no sentimentality for the wily French player who was appearing in his 66th Grand Slam tournament, blasting him off court in 98 minutes, slamming down 22 aces in the process.

Santoro was loudly cheered by a small contingent of French fans and given a bottle of champagne at a special presentation by tournament director Craig Tiley after the match on the secondary show court on Hisense Arena.

Roddick will meet Spain's Tommy Robredo in the fourth round after he comfortably beat Taiwan's Lu Yen-hsun 6-1 6-3 6-2.

Spain's David Ferrer, the 11th seed who was beaten by Djokovic in the quarter-finals last year, crashed out to Croatia's Marin Cilic 7-6 6-3 6-4.

Cilic will now meet dangerous Argentine eighth seed Juan Martin del Potro who came from a set down to beat Luxembourg's Gilles Muller 6-7 7-5 6-3 7-5.

In a match lasting almost three-and-a-half hours, del Potro weathered some brilliant serving from Muller to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time, surpassing his third-round effort at the US Open in 2006.

See the Australian Open live all the way to the final on February 1 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.

Reuters / AFP

Comment 19 - 38 of 58

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  1. What is going on with the Djokovic groundstrokes ? so­ many short balls half way up the court,off both­ wings.He needs more depth or he is going out,he didnt­ look very immpressive to me,against the n0 127 in the­ world,play like that against Federer,Murray or Nadal,or­ even Bhagdatis,Roddick,then you may be on your way­ home,Sort it out Novak.

    From carlos480bc, on Fri 23 Jan 4:13PM

  2. To set the records straight, wimbledon grass courts are­ now slower than the hard of US and Aussie opens. This­ was confirmed the last 2 yrs. The grass court used to­ be the fastest not anymore. D reasons for this are­ varied. The slower courts (and the change in racket­ technoogy) are the reasons why the serve & volley­ game on grass is now dead.

    Nadal is an accomplished­ player on all surfaces however at the very top level­ the difference btw players are very marginal and­ determines whether you win or lose. Federer is the 2nd­ best player on clay but the clay court helps Nadal with­ high bouncing heavy top spin shots. Same on grass. On­ hard it's easier to predict the bounce: its pure­ and be better dealt with. Besides top players can­ launch their attacks breaking Nadal's rythm.­ Besides in a grand slam (7matches), best of 5 matches,­ on hard courts with erratic rythm, Nadal's ferocius­ play takes his toll. Can he win Aussie or US? Yes but­ he will have to work extra hard for it.

    Federer is by­ far the all around best. Not now though becos more of­ fitness issues.

    From Robert O, on Fri 23 Jan 4:09PM

  3. Rhymes i def pick Roddick to serve his way past­ Robredo,as for Del Potro Cilic,that is a tricky one at­ the moment,Cilic has a huge game,he was one of my early­ picks, and im still going to back him here,i think he­ has a chance to take out Del Potro,might be similar to­ the Muller match.Fed was awsome today,backhand was­ phenominal,infact it all was,He is playing the way he­ did at the US,silky smooth,forhand deadly again.

    From carlos480bc, on Fri 23 Jan 4:03PM

  4. I had no interest in watching the games at present....I­ found a hot place, you guys should try it ___Wealthy­ beauty co m_____a great place for rich people to meet­ their soul mates....

    From zjmdj002, on Fri 23 Jan 3:59PM

  5. Go Roger! This one is yours baby!

    From j_speck3, on Fri 23 Jan 3:54PM

  6. To set the record straight, Del Potro got to the­ quarters (5th round) of Flushing Meadows last year. Big­ match now between him and Cilic. Another good­ performance from Tommy Robredo, who has got to the­ fourth round of several Grand Slams and the quarters of­ quite a few. He's cruised thro' so far but­ Roddick must be just about the last guy he wanted to­ see on the other side of the net. Cheers

    From rhymes450, on Fri 23 Jan 3:43PM

  7. heyyyyyyyyyyyy murray fans and nadal fans has to worry­ now.king of tennis back .

    From anu, on Fri 23 Jan 3:26PM

  8. east or west federer is the best.

    From anu, on Fri 23 Jan 3:23PM

  9. Riza V: Do you know anything about tennis? Clay and­ Grass are the slowest and fastest surfaces on the­ circuit, so if a player is good on both, why will he­ not be good on astroturf/hard surface? Nadal, though­ not my man, is a fantastic player and we give him all­ the kudos he deserves. I just think that Federer will­ beat everyone this Aussie Open.

    From nkoyo, on Fri 23 Jan 3:15PM

  10. To Riza V. If Nadal is no good on hard courts, then how­ come he has won 4 Masters series events on hard courts.­ You know nothing about tennis.

    From webbski, on Fri 23 Jan 3:13PM

  11. I thionk will do well as a Federer stuntman should­ federer start weorking on his NEW Film, "FEDEX-the­ Unstopable" in 2021...The guy is clearly abig­ fan..He Nike shoes had the Federer initials...My tip­ for him; Keep it up Delic am sure when you grow up,­ wyou will wanna be like Federer!

    From Afroberliner, on Fri 23 Jan 3:07PM

  12. Nadal is only good on clay and good in grass, Djocovic­ plays good in hard court on the other hand Federer­ plays good in grass,clay and in hard court what else­ can you ask for!!! he is the best very flexible indeed!­ He is going to get it!

    From azir, on Fri 23 Jan 2:25PM

  13. Dominant Display,looks ominous for the rest !

    From carlos480bc, on Fri 23 Jan 2:13PM

  14. GO­ Roger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!hihihi ­ Jess X

    From Jeremy, on Fri 23 Jan 2:13PM

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    From , on Fri 23 Jan 2:13PM

  16. federer my love u are my number 1 forever and ever go­ on roger u will win the australian open

    From monik_smiley_original, on Fri 23 Jan 2:09PM

  17. Club Fed.

    From avanze, on Fri 23 Jan 1:40PM

  18. Guys, Federer was impressive today especially in the­ first two sets. Safin was playing great as well in the­ first. If Federer keeps this up I only give some chance­ to Murray and Nadal or maybe Djoker :) He resembled his­ best today, stupid angles, backhands, forehands, there­ was some magic :) The Fed-Ex is really accelerating. GO­ Roger!

    From Marcell, on Fri 23 Jan 1:38PM

  19. Federer is the best!

    From marinnike, on Fri 23 Jan 1:36PM

  20. Fed played with Seppi rank 35 then korolev rank 118 but­ he qualified to the 2nd round after beating Carlos Moya­ then today he seems to be unbeatable with Marat Safin­
    So for God who has a tougher draw ? No one between­ Rafa, Nole , Murray has a tougher draw than him
    Please­ give guy what he deserve

    From ola azmy, on Fri 23 Jan 1:34PM
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