It will be Roger Federer vs. Tomas Berdych for a fourth time at the Australian Open, but this time it won’t be in the quarterfinals or with a quarterfinal berth at stake. They are set to face each other in a round of 32 for the first time since their first two encounters came at this same stage of two different tournaments (2004 Athens Olympics and 2005 Hamburg Masters).
The two veterans were at the mercy of the draw because Federer dropped outside the top 16 to 17th in the rankings and Berdych is out of the top eight at No. 10 in the world. Thus serious trouble–in the form of each other–looms on Friday. But neither man has struggled to any significant extent through two matches.
Federer followed up a four-set victory over 35-year-old Jurgen Melzer by beating another qualifier, 20-year-old Noah Rubin, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6(3) on Wednesday afternoon. The 17-time Grand Slam champion fought off two sets points in the third before advancing in two hours and three minutes.
“It was a difficult first set (and a) tricky third set, of course,” Federer reflected. “I had to save a couple of set points. I know it could have gone different. I think I was a bit more consistent than in the first match against Melzer, where I ended up losing that second set after leading. I think I had a little bit better concentration. I didn’t know much about Noah Rubin going in except the info I got from my coaches. I was prepared; I was ready to battle. I was able to get the win, so I’m very happy.”
Federer-Rubin highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6wag01f6tI
Berdych also bedeviled an American underdog, as he took down Ryan Harrison 6-3, 7-6(6), 6-2. The Czech benefited from 11 Harrison double-faults to break serve five times while getting the job done in two hours and five minutes.
Harrison, who seemed to be struggling physically, threw everything he had at Berdych in the middle from of play. The world No. 82 earned a set point at 6-5 in the tiebreaker, but it came on Berdych’s serve and the 10th seed took care of it with an overhead winner. Berdych finished the set two points later and from there it was all over for Harrison.
Berdych-Harrison highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HZcOf4SYGc
Berdych and Federer have squared off 22 times in their careers, with Federer leading the head-to-head series 16-6. The 35-year-old Swiss is 3-0 at the Australian Open, with two straight-set wins (including last season) and another in five sets.
“I know I’ve got to lift my game a little bit,” Federer said of facing Berdych. “But then again, I haven’t seen Tomas play a lot (recently) to be honest. I didn’t see anything, basically; let’s put it that way. He was playing at the same time [today]. I’ve just got to play on my terms and really be focused on my own service games to make sure I don’t have any lapses there.”
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Im not a fan of either player, so i dont really care either way who wins this one, but i think Berdych wins this one, hes not intimidated by Federer or his aura, and seems to relish the challenge, also he seems fresher and more rested, and Federer might still be rusty, just my opinion ….