It’s too early–or is it?–to start thinking about another Australian Open title for Roger Federer, but his potential path to the winner’s trophy from round three through the final is worth noting: Tomas Berdych, Kei Nishikori, Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka, and Rafael Nadal.
That is just about as tough as it could get for Federer, but the 35-year-old Swiss had absolutely no trouble with the first of those five roadblocks on Friday night. Federer thrashed Tomas Berdych 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 in a surprisingly routine third-round showdown that lasted just one hour and 30 minutes.
The 17-time Grand Slam champion raised his level dramatically from the first two rounds, during which he scraped past Jurgen Melzer and Noah Rubin in solid but unspectacular fashion. With the competition level ratcheting up, Federer responded by turning back the clock with a virtuoso performance. He fired 40 winners compared to only 17 unforced errors and surrendered a mere 14 points in 14 service games.
“I was hoping to play [well]Â against better-ranked players because I guess I know them more and I know these matchups so well over the years that maybe sometimes it’s easier to play against them than it is against a qualifier, somebody I’ve only played a few times,” Federer explained. “From the baseline, honestly I felt worlds better than in the first couple of rounds. Yeah, it’s wonderful. I’m really happy.”
Federer-Berdych highlights:
Fellow Swiss Stan Wawrinka joined Federer in the last 16 by holding off Viktor Troicki 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(7) after two hours and 32 minutes. Wawrinka twice failed to serve out the match at 5-4 and 6-5 in the fourth set, soon after which he came within one point of being pushed to a fifth. But the world No. 4 stumbled across the finish line by saving a set point at 6-7 and converting his second match point at 8-7 when a Troicki backhand hit the tape.
“It was not always the best tennis, but I’m happy to won the match,” Wawrinka said. “That’s all that counts. In general, it was a good momentum–second, third, and fourth set I was playing better.”
Next up for the 2014 Australian Open champion is Andreas Seppi, while Federer is set for another blockbuster battle with Nishikori. Seppi, who won a thriller against Nick Kyrgios in round two, beat Steve Darcis 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(1), 7-6(2) on Friday; Nishikori rolled over Lukas Lacko 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.
Wawrinka-Troicki highlights:
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who ya got?
Fed in 4, Stan in 4.
Ricky I like your list of potential obstacles (a Fedal final? Blood races at the thought.) But Raonic doesn’t even get a mention? 🙂
Ricky: “It’s too early–or is it?–to start thinking about another Australian Open title for Roger Federer, but his potential path to the winner’s trophy from round three through the final is worth noting: Tomas Berdych, Kei Nishikori, Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka, and RAFAEL NADAL.”
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Ricky, you need to be more consistent. You have predicted that Nadal will lose to Zverev in the 3rd round yet here you list him as one of the potential obstacles to Federer winning the title but Nadal and Federer cannot play each other until the final.
Well I just hope that you not comparing ‘predicted’ with ‘potential’.
Don’t you?
Or do you.
No you did.
OK. Good.
#RothenbergError
I’m going to say Nishikori in 4 or Federer in 3, weird I know but I’ve got a feelings its one of them
Berdych is destroyed by everyone these days – first by Djoko, then Murray, followed by Rafa (at Abu Dhabi exho) and now Fed.
Too early???
Hawkstradamus said it here weeks ago before Hopman Cup when there were calls that he was a step slow and too fat.
Climb aboard Hawkstradamus’ FedExpress to 18 before it’s too late!!!
#SurchargesAndTaxesNotIncluded
Federer won me good money I went all-in with my entire bankroll over $2.5k
Fed will take down nishi. And Stan should beat Seppi. Allez!! ??
Federer had a great performance, and I love seeing him going through. But I honestly expected more from Berdych.. I mean, he lost against RF basically all his life, and he always had potential of doing more. I thought this was his time to do better, meaning not losing in straight sets for the 5th time in a row at least. And that’s quite bad, as Roger in this last 3 years hasn’t been the unstoppable Roger from before.
Roger was unstoppable last night. Awesome serving performance, even for him. Can he keep it up for four more matches against top competition? I’m still dubious, but nice to see Fed looking good.
I only watched bits and pieces of that match. I couldn’t decide if Berdych was having a bad day, Federer was having a great day or he’s just that good, I think I’ll go with the later. Berdych looked like a rookie out there.
Now that I had a chance to watch the replay. I have to agree. Very disappointing performance from Berdy. Fed’s serve was really on in that match.
I like Fed in 4, but a lot of that may just be wishful thinking…and Wka in 3.