Seeds advance easily in Melbourne
Source: Agencies |
January 20, 2010, Wednesday
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ROGER Federer, seeking his 16th grand slam title, had a few tense moments in his 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (2), 6-0 first-round win over Igor Andreev of Russia at the Australian Open yesterday.
The Swiss lost the first set after leading by a break, then saved three set points in the 12th game of third set before winning the tiebreaker and dominating the fourth set.
"I did know it was going to be tough, we played five sets in New York two years back and I really had to adjust my game to beat him," Federer said of Andreev. "I think I definitely got lucky to get out of that one. It was a fortunate third set today. I prefer easier matches, but this worked as well."
Top-ranked Serena Williams, the defending women's champion, had an easy first-rounder, beating Urszula Radwanska of Poland 6-2, 6-1. Her sister, sixth-seeded Venus, also advanced easily, beating Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-2.
Third-seeded Novak Djokovic beat Daniel Gimeno-Traver of Spain 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 in a night match. Djokovic won his first and only grand slam at the 2008 Australian Open, losing only one set during the two-week tournament and beat Federer in the semifinals.
Hometown favorite Lleyton Hewitt, still trying to win his first Australian Open after losing in the 2005 final to Marat Safin, opened with a 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 win over qualifier Ricardo Hocevar of Brazil.
Serena Williams' record in the first round of the slams is even more impressive than Federer's - she has never lost an opener.
"I was a little nervous today because that's always on the back of my mind," Serena said. "Records are meant to be broken. This one means a lot to me ... just to have an opportunity to have not lost yet in the first round of a grand slam - knock on wood - is really good for me."
The 28-year-old American hurt her left knee at the Sydney International last Friday night and later said she has been bothered by a foot problem. She played with her right thigh heavily wrapped with a white bandage yesterday, but said it was more for a precaution.
Williams' win in 73 minutes contrasted to what the WTA Tour said was a record for the longest women's match at a major in the Open era. Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic needed 4 hours, 19 minutes to beat Russia's Regina Kulikova 7-6 (5), 6-7 (10), 6-3.
Elsewhere, No. 8 Jelena Jankovic, No. 11 Marion Bartoli, No. 13 Sam Stosur and No. 19 Nadia Petrova advanced along with No. 26 Aravane Rezai, who beat India's Sania Mirza 6-4, 6-2.
No. 18 Virginie Razzano lost 6-2, 6-3 to Russia's Ekaterina Makarova and American Vania King ousted No. 23 Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia 6-3, 6-7 (5), 7-5.
Melanie Oudin, the 18-year-old American who made a surprising run to last year's US Open quarterfinals, also went out in the first round, beaten 2-6, 7-5, 7-5 by Alla Kudryavtseva of Russia. Oudin has won just one WTA Tour match since the US Open.
Back on the men's side, sixth-seeded Nikolay Davydenko, No. 9 Fernando Verdasco, No. 10 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, No. 12 Gael Monfils of France, No. 19 Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland and No. 21 Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic all advanced.
Americans James Blake and John Isner reached the second round, but No. 25 Sam Querrey lost to German veteran Rainer Schuettler. Blake had a 7-5, 7-5, 6-2 win over Frenchman Arnaud Clement, while Isner held off Andreas Seppi of Italy 6-3, 6-3, 3-6, 5-7, 6-4.
Fabrice Santoro extended his grand slam career into a fourth decade, but he lasted only one match - a 5-7, 5-7, 3-6 loss to 14th-seeded Marin Cilic of Croatia.
The 37-year-old Frenchman, who started his grand slam career at the 1989 French Open, retired last season but returned to Melbourne Park for a record 70th major.
The Swiss lost the first set after leading by a break, then saved three set points in the 12th game of third set before winning the tiebreaker and dominating the fourth set.
"I did know it was going to be tough, we played five sets in New York two years back and I really had to adjust my game to beat him," Federer said of Andreev. "I think I definitely got lucky to get out of that one. It was a fortunate third set today. I prefer easier matches, but this worked as well."
Top-ranked Serena Williams, the defending women's champion, had an easy first-rounder, beating Urszula Radwanska of Poland 6-2, 6-1. Her sister, sixth-seeded Venus, also advanced easily, beating Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-2.
Third-seeded Novak Djokovic beat Daniel Gimeno-Traver of Spain 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 in a night match. Djokovic won his first and only grand slam at the 2008 Australian Open, losing only one set during the two-week tournament and beat Federer in the semifinals.
Hometown favorite Lleyton Hewitt, still trying to win his first Australian Open after losing in the 2005 final to Marat Safin, opened with a 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 win over qualifier Ricardo Hocevar of Brazil.
Serena Williams' record in the first round of the slams is even more impressive than Federer's - she has never lost an opener.
"I was a little nervous today because that's always on the back of my mind," Serena said. "Records are meant to be broken. This one means a lot to me ... just to have an opportunity to have not lost yet in the first round of a grand slam - knock on wood - is really good for me."
The 28-year-old American hurt her left knee at the Sydney International last Friday night and later said she has been bothered by a foot problem. She played with her right thigh heavily wrapped with a white bandage yesterday, but said it was more for a precaution.
Williams' win in 73 minutes contrasted to what the WTA Tour said was a record for the longest women's match at a major in the Open era. Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic needed 4 hours, 19 minutes to beat Russia's Regina Kulikova 7-6 (5), 6-7 (10), 6-3.
Elsewhere, No. 8 Jelena Jankovic, No. 11 Marion Bartoli, No. 13 Sam Stosur and No. 19 Nadia Petrova advanced along with No. 26 Aravane Rezai, who beat India's Sania Mirza 6-4, 6-2.
No. 18 Virginie Razzano lost 6-2, 6-3 to Russia's Ekaterina Makarova and American Vania King ousted No. 23 Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia 6-3, 6-7 (5), 7-5.
Melanie Oudin, the 18-year-old American who made a surprising run to last year's US Open quarterfinals, also went out in the first round, beaten 2-6, 7-5, 7-5 by Alla Kudryavtseva of Russia. Oudin has won just one WTA Tour match since the US Open.
Back on the men's side, sixth-seeded Nikolay Davydenko, No. 9 Fernando Verdasco, No. 10 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, No. 12 Gael Monfils of France, No. 19 Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland and No. 21 Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic all advanced.
Americans James Blake and John Isner reached the second round, but No. 25 Sam Querrey lost to German veteran Rainer Schuettler. Blake had a 7-5, 7-5, 6-2 win over Frenchman Arnaud Clement, while Isner held off Andreas Seppi of Italy 6-3, 6-3, 3-6, 5-7, 6-4.
Fabrice Santoro extended his grand slam career into a fourth decade, but he lasted only one match - a 5-7, 5-7, 3-6 loss to 14th-seeded Marin Cilic of Croatia.
The 37-year-old Frenchman, who started his grand slam career at the 1989 French Open, retired last season but returned to Melbourne Park for a record 70th major.
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