Federer Beats Rubin; Murray Schools Rublev to Reach Melbourne Third Round
Four-time Australian Open champion Roger Federer moved into the third round of the Australian Open on Wednesday, downing 20-year old Long Islander Noah Rubin 7-5, 6-3, 7-6(3) on Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia.
Rubin, playing in the biggest match of his life, showed no signs of nerves in the opening games of this second-round affair as Federer tried to feel him out in the early going. Rubin successfully traded groundstrokes with the 17-time Grand Slam champion and saved four break points in the match’s sixth game to hold for 3-3.
The opening set remained on serve until 6-5 when Federer sniffed out the lone break he needed to win it 7-5.
In the second set, Federer made sure to get the break he needed early on, and did so for the 4-2 advantage, going on to serve out the set and win it 6-3.
Rubin did not go away quietly and continued to show the fight and determination that has brought him success so far in his early career, and broke Federer for the first time in the match to build a 2-0 advantage, eventually pushing it 5-2. But the Swiss star wanted to get out of this match in straight sets and won three straight games to knot things up at 5-5, pushing the third set into a tiebreaker and closing things out after a Rubin forehand error.
“It was a difficult first set and a tricky third set, of course. I had to save a couple of set points. I know it could have gone different,” said Federer. “I think I was a bit more consistent than in the first match against [Jurgen] Melzer, where I ended up losing that second set after leading. I think I had a little better concentration. I didn’t know much about Noah Rubin going in except the info I got from my coaches. I was prepared and I was ready to battle.
I was able to get the win, so I’m very happy.”
Federer is still working his way into form after missing the second half of 2016 with injuries, but has won six of seven sets so far in Melbourne, and faces a familiar foe in 10th seeded Tomas Berdych in the third round.
Berdych knocked off American Ryan Harrison 6-3, 7-6(6), 6-2 in his second round match on Wednesday.
Federer is 16-6 all-time against Berdych including a victory in last year’s Australian Open quarterfinals.
World number one Andy Murray had no problems with young Russian Andrey Rublev, rolling to the 6-3, 6-0, 6-2 triumph in the final match on Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday.
“I did pretty good tonight. It was better than the first match,” said Murray. “I was hitting the ball a bit cleaner. I was hitting through the court more. More winners. I was able to get myself up to the net more. I served way better, too. That helps you and allows you to dictate more points. Second serve was harder than the other night, than the other day. Most things were better tonight. But I still think I can improve.”
He will look to do so when he meets American Sam Querrey next. Querrey defeated Australian teenager Alex De Minaur 7-6(5), 6-0, 6-1 to advance on Wednesday.
Fourth-seed Stan Wawrinka and fifth-seed Kei Nishikori both looked impressive in their second round matches, as Wawrinka dispatched American Steve Johnson 6-3, 6-4, 6-4, setting up a match with 29th seeded Serb Viktor Troicki, who ousted Paolo Lorenzi 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-3.
Nishikori converted on seven of 18 break point chances to move past France’s Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-4, 6-3. The three-time quarterfinalist will take on Slovakia’s Lukas Lacko who beat Israel’s Dudi Sela 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.
Italy’s Andreas Seppi upset 14th seed Australian Nick Kyrgios, coming back from two sets down to win 1-6, 6-7(1), 6-4, 6-2, 10-8 and shock the Aussie in front of his home crowd. Seppi gets Germany’s Steve Darcis next after Darcis upended Diego Schwartzman 6-3, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4.
Great Britain’s continued his excellent singles start to the year, upsetting seventh-seed Marin Cilic 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-3.
“I think I played as well as I can play today,” said Evans. “I was really pleased with how I played especially towards the end of the match.”
Evans plays 27th seeded Aussie Bernard Tomic who ousted Victor Estrella Burgos 7-5, 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-6(5).
John Isner coughed up a two-sets-to-love lead as Germany’s Mischa Zverev came back to beat the 19th seeded American 6-7(4), 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(7), 9-7, setting up a match with Malek Jaziri of Tunisia.
American Jack Sock posted an impressive 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 win over Karen Khachanov, and will play 12th seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga next.
