Roger Federer reeled off some of his best tennis to claim a commanding straight-sets win over Slovenia’s Blaz Kavcic and reach the third round of the Australian Open on Thursday.
The Swiss 17-time Grand Slam champion was in irresistible form in the opening two sets before winning 6-2, 6-1, 7-6 (7/4) in one hour 47 minutes on Hisense Arena.
Federer, playing away from the main Rod Laver Arena court for the first time in 10 years, faced Kavcic with the stadium roof closed because of the tournament’s extreme heat policy.
He blazed away for 52 winners, six service breaks and 11 aces to control his match with the 99th-ranked Slovenian.
Kavcic could mostly only shake his head and marvel at the brilliance of the four-time Australian Open champion, although he came more into the match in the final set when he forced a tiebreaker.
But Federer played the pressure points the better to finish well on top in front of an adoring Australian crowd.
The Swiss legend will next play either Spanish 31st seed Fernando Verdasco or Russian Teymuraz Gabashvili.
Federer is looking to become only the man along with Australian Roy Emerson to win five Australian Opens.
10th-seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga knocked out Brazilian qualifier Thomaz Bellucci in straight sets, despite a tough opener, 7-6 (8/6), 6-4, 6-4. He’s lined up with either Marin Cilic or Gilles Simon for the third round.
Japanese 16th seed Kei Nishikori also dispensed with a qualifier, Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic with relative ease 6-1, 6-1, 7-6 (7/3). He’s set to face unseeded American Donald Young in the third round, after young beat Italian 24th-seed Andreas Seppi in a nailbiter 6-4, 2-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5.
Andy Murray highlights the later matches with a bout against French qualifier Vincent Millot.
