Roger Federer back to his best in Australian Open victory
Monday 16 January 2012
Latest in Tennis
Related articles
On Facebook
Sport blogs
iBet: Serena Williams looks hungry again
Serena Williams has looked right back to her best in recent weeks and more importantly she looks hun...
Manchester City top the ‘injury league’, with Manchester United bottom
The results of new research into every significant injury suffered by every Premier League footballe...
Stereotypical Germany? With the defence ‘forgotten’, think again
The blunt exposure of Germany's defensive problems in their last two friendlies has certainly served...
Roger Federer showed no sign of back trouble as he cruised into the second round of the Australian Open today with a 7-5 6-2 6-2 victory over qualifier Alexander Kudryavtsev.
The 30-year-old Swiss, who withdrew during the leadup Qatar Open after suffering back pain, was at his clinical best, blasting winners from all angles as he wrapped up the match in 98 minutes at Rod Laver Arena.
The 2010 champion, bidding to extend his men's record to 17th grand slam, traded baselines punches with his 172nd-ranked opponent early before landing a sublime backhand winner down the line to seal the first set and seize the initiative.
Kudryavtsev drew a rare scowl from Federer, however, when he won a furious baseline skirmish to break the Swiss's serve and claw back to 3-2 in the third set.
But the 26-year-old rued clipping a net cord in the next game that set up an easy backhand winner that allowed Federer to break back and cruise to victory.
Reuters
- 1 Serena struck down by brave Razzano and umpire furore
- 2 Olympians: They're fit and don't we just know it
- 3 McIlroy misses another cut and admits 'taking my eye off the ball'
- 4 'I'm joining Chelsea', says £40m Lille playmaker Eden Hazard
- 5 Hodgson urges squad to attempt to 'enjoy' Euros
- 6 Club-by-club guide: Players available on a free transfer this summer
- 7 Marathon men: Are Spain running out of puff?
- 8 Sports caption competition winners
- 9 Rodgers veers towards taking Liverpool job
- 10 United close in on Kagawa after missing out on Hazard
- 1 Summer 2012: Money no object
- 2 Anger over Lagarde's tax-free salary
- 3 Sex in dressing rooms and Play School presenters 'stoned out of their minds' - inside BBC Television Centre
- 4 Mark Neary: The father who opened up secret courts
- 5 'Hello mum, this is going to be hard for you to read ...'
- 6 Image released of naked cannibal killed by Miami police as he ate homeless man's face
- 7 Israel hints it may be behind super-virus targeting Iran
- 8 Queen's legacy: sex and drugs and rock'n'roll
- 9 Coke reveals its secret: It may need to carry a cancer warning
- 10 French in uproar over oral sex anti-smoking posters
Experience the Heineken Hub
Get free wi-fi and exclusive i content while you enjoy a tasty pint of Heineken at participating pubs.
Can you imagine a career in teaching?
Be inspired to teach - let real teachers show you how rewarding the job can be.
Playing a game-changing role during the Games
Cisco is providing the solutions for London 2012's complex IT needs.
Enter the latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
Business videos from commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.
Grace Dent
Ireland's austerity D-Day: How much pain can it take?
Is doctors' fixation on treatment making us ill?
Return of the unacceptable face of capitalism?
Off the rails in Bermuda





Comments