Australian Open: Tomic aims to derail Federer
Home favourite to take on 17-time Grand Slam winner in 3rd round.
There were no major upsets in the second round of the Australian Open as the big guns comfortably booked their spots in the third round yesterday. PHOTO: AFP
MELBOURNE:
Roger Federer set up an intriguing clash with young Australian Bernard Tomic as title-rival Andy Murray booked a straightforward passage into the Australian Open third round on Thursday.
The record 17-time Grand Slam champion had few problems with Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko, winning 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in one hour and 59 minutes in a night match on Rod Laver Arena.
“I have so much more experience than him (Tomic),” said Federer.
“Last year I reached my 1,000th match on tour and I know how hard a five-setter match can be. I know how intense a night session can be. I’ve been there before. That could potentially help me, but it could also work against me. We’ll see how it goes.”
Meanwhile, British third-seed and reigning US Open champion Murray was impressive in conceding just eight games as he put away 100th-ranked Portuguese Joao Sousa, 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 in one hour and 41 minutes on Hisense Arena. Murray, twice a runner-up at the Australian Open, will have his hitting partner, Lithuanian qualifier Ricardas Berankis, as his next opponent in the last-32.
In another match, Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, a runner-up here five years ago, was made to toil hard in the heat for his 6-3, 7-6 (7/1), 6-3 win over Japan’s 73rd-ranked Go Soeda in 2 hours and 3 minutes on Margaret Court Arena.
Serena, Azarenka through with easy wins
Defending champion Victoria Azarenka conceded just one game in a lopsided second-round romp at the Australian Open Thursday, while Serena Williams shook off an ankle injury to progress.
A pumped-up Azarenka said her game was exactly where she wanted it after crushing Greece’s Eleni Daniilidou 6-1, 6-0.
“I felt really good during the match today, I enjoyed a lot the way I remained focused throughout,” said Azarenka. “I definitely stepped it up from my performance in the first match, and I was in the zone trying to execute all the shots in my locker. I was trying to make everything happen on court, and that’s what I’m happy about.”
Azarenka next faces American Jamie Hampton, who sent Thai qualifier Luksika Kumkhum packing 6-1, 6-2, and said she felt in good touch. She was followed onto the Rod Laver Arena on a scorching hot day by Williams, with all eyes on her condition after a nasty roll of the right ankle in her first-round match.
But the American third-seed, looking for a sixth Australian title, was moving freely in a solid 6-2, 6-0 workout against Spanish teenager Garbine Muguruza. The 15-time Grand Slam winner next plays Japan’s Ayumi Morita, who beat German Annika Beck 6-2, 6-0.
Aisam-Rojer set to battle Belgian pair
Aisamul Haq Qureshi and his Dutch partner Jean-Julien Rojer will take on Belgium’s unseeded Xavier Malisse and Dick Norman in the second round of the men’s doubles in the Australian Open today.
The sixth-seeds won their first round of the event by defeating David Goffman and Simon Stadler 6-3, 6-1 on Wednesday. Aisam’s immediate aim is to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open, the only Grand Slam where he has been unable to reach the last-eight. The last two years saw him crash out of the round-of-16.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 18th, 2013.
Roger Federer set up an intriguing clash with young Australian Bernard Tomic as title-rival Andy Murray booked a straightforward passage into the Australian Open third round on Thursday.
The record 17-time Grand Slam champion had few problems with Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko, winning 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in one hour and 59 minutes in a night match on Rod Laver Arena.
“I have so much more experience than him (Tomic),” said Federer.
“Last year I reached my 1,000th match on tour and I know how hard a five-setter match can be. I know how intense a night session can be. I’ve been there before. That could potentially help me, but it could also work against me. We’ll see how it goes.”
Meanwhile, British third-seed and reigning US Open champion Murray was impressive in conceding just eight games as he put away 100th-ranked Portuguese Joao Sousa, 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 in one hour and 41 minutes on Hisense Arena. Murray, twice a runner-up at the Australian Open, will have his hitting partner, Lithuanian qualifier Ricardas Berankis, as his next opponent in the last-32.
In another match, Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, a runner-up here five years ago, was made to toil hard in the heat for his 6-3, 7-6 (7/1), 6-3 win over Japan’s 73rd-ranked Go Soeda in 2 hours and 3 minutes on Margaret Court Arena.
Serena, Azarenka through with easy wins
Defending champion Victoria Azarenka conceded just one game in a lopsided second-round romp at the Australian Open Thursday, while Serena Williams shook off an ankle injury to progress.
A pumped-up Azarenka said her game was exactly where she wanted it after crushing Greece’s Eleni Daniilidou 6-1, 6-0.
“I felt really good during the match today, I enjoyed a lot the way I remained focused throughout,” said Azarenka. “I definitely stepped it up from my performance in the first match, and I was in the zone trying to execute all the shots in my locker. I was trying to make everything happen on court, and that’s what I’m happy about.”
Azarenka next faces American Jamie Hampton, who sent Thai qualifier Luksika Kumkhum packing 6-1, 6-2, and said she felt in good touch. She was followed onto the Rod Laver Arena on a scorching hot day by Williams, with all eyes on her condition after a nasty roll of the right ankle in her first-round match.
But the American third-seed, looking for a sixth Australian title, was moving freely in a solid 6-2, 6-0 workout against Spanish teenager Garbine Muguruza. The 15-time Grand Slam winner next plays Japan’s Ayumi Morita, who beat German Annika Beck 6-2, 6-0.
Aisam-Rojer set to battle Belgian pair
Aisamul Haq Qureshi and his Dutch partner Jean-Julien Rojer will take on Belgium’s unseeded Xavier Malisse and Dick Norman in the second round of the men’s doubles in the Australian Open today.
The sixth-seeds won their first round of the event by defeating David Goffman and Simon Stadler 6-3, 6-1 on Wednesday. Aisam’s immediate aim is to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open, the only Grand Slam where he has been unable to reach the last-eight. The last two years saw him crash out of the round-of-16.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 18th, 2013.