The Swiss world number two had cruised to a two-set advantage, but Simon, who had won both their other two encounters, hit back spectacularly to take the contest into a fifth and deciding set. Federer was relieved to escape with a five-set victory and prevent his worst Grand Slam performance since a first-round loss at the 2003 French Open.
“Today I got lucky to go through,” said Federer. “He’s a great player. Matches against him don’t come easy and they always go the distance. Hopefully I won’t play him any more!”
Federer’s victory equalled Swede Stefan Edberg’s record (56-10) for the most Open Era wins at the Australian Open. Federer now has a 56-7 win-loss record at Melbourne Park.
Meanwhile, Serbian third-seed Novak Djokovic had to work overtime with a four-set win over Croatian Ivan Dodig. The in-form Serb was always expected to be too good for the 81st-ranked Dodig, but was a fraction off his game and struggled to quell his spirited opponent before eventually winning 7-5, 6-7 (8/10), 6-0, 6-2.
Andy Roddick is ready to break his semi-final curse as he bids to reach his first Australian Open final in nine attempts. The American power-server is a four-time semi-finalist at Melbourne Park, and is taking it one step at a time after seeing off 99th-ranked Igor Kunitsyn 7-6 (9/7), 6-2, 6-3 in the second round. Czech sixth-seed Tomas Berdych got an early scare only to blaze past Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4.
Wozniacki ups her game
Women’s world number one Caroline Wozniacki roared back to form with a thumping Australian Open win which kept her in the running for a maiden Grand Slam title. Wozniacki, 20, shook off a troubled start to the year with a 6-1, 6-0 demolition of America’s Vania King, burying 23 winners to reach the third round.
The 20-year-old blonde needs to reach the semi-finals to be sure of retaining the top ranking, which she achieved in October after racking up six tournament wins last season. But Wozniacki said she was on the right path. “I always believe you can always get better,” said Wozniacki. “Even Rafa and Roger, who are fantastic athletes, they even get better all the time. So they impress everyone every time they step on the court.”
Venus Williams, on the other hand, struggled as she recovered from a painful on-court injury to overcome unheralded Czech player Sandra Zahlavova 6-7 (6/8), 6-0, 6-4. The American appeared to injure a groin muscle on set point in the first when she hit an overhead backhand, screaming in pain and grasping herself as she played the shot.
But Williams swung freely after returning from a medical time-out and blasted 15 clean winners past Zahlavova as she quickly got back on terms, and kept her composure to close out the match.
Belgium’s Justine Henin won 6-1, 6-3 against Briton Elena Baltacha and former Australian Open champion Maria Sharapova beat Frenchwoman Virginie Razzano 7-6 (7/3), 6-3.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 20th, 2011.
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