Rust-free Federer launches title bid with sublime win
MELBOURNE: Roger Federer showed no sign of rust despite a lack of match practice ahead of the Australian Open as he launched his bid for a record-extending 21st Grand Slam title by hammering Steve Johnson 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in the first round on Monday. Playing his first competitive match since losing to Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas in the ATP Finals in November, the 38-year-old broke his opponent’s serve early in each of the three sets and closed out the match when Johnson hit a return long.
Unlike his main rivals, third seed Federer, who won his last Grand Slam in 2018 at Melbourne Park, opted out of the inaugural ATP Cup in Australia to spend more time with his family before launching his 22nd season on Tour. In his pre-tournament news conference on Saturday, Federer talked about the importance of getting off to a fast start and he did that against the American, who has not won a set in his three meetings against the Swiss.
“I just haven’t played proper matches in many, many weeks, and a lot of guys, probably 95% of the guys, are coming here with matches,” Federer told reporters.
DJOKOVIC DIGS DEEP
Second seed Novak Djokovic was forced to work hard by unwavering German Jan-Lennard Struff in his first match of the Australian Open on Monday before prevailing 7-6(5), 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 to stay on course for a record-extending eighth title at Melbourne Park.
Defending champion Djokovic got off to a strong start for a 5-2 lead in the opening set but the German world number 37 fought back to level things at 5-5 before going down in a closely-fought tiebreaker. The second set proved relatively simpler for the winner of 16 Grand Slam singles titles as he converted two breakpoints while showing the same kind of form that helped him lead Serbia to the inaugural ATP Cup title before arriving in Melbourne.
Struff continued to persevere, breaking his opponent thrice in the third set, but Djokovic wrested back initiative early in the fourth to set up a second round meeting against either Japanese wildcard Tatsuma Ito or lucky loser Prajnesh Gunneswaran of India.
SHAPOVALOV FUMES
Feisty Canadian Denis Shapovalov was sent packing at the first hurdle Monday after an epic row with the umpire for throwing his racquet in frustration.
The world number 13 was beaten 6-3, 7-6 (9/7), 6-1, 7-6 (7/3) by Hungarian Marton Fucsovics in a big upset on day one of the first Grand Slam of the year.
The umpire gave him a code violation for throwing his racquet and it didn’t go down well.
“I’m not breaking any rules,” he shouted at the official. “It’s my racquet, I can do whatever the hell I want with it. What are you talking about, I didn’t break it.”
TSITSIPAS WINS
Stefanos Tsitsipas put on a commanding performance in his opening match with a thumping 6-0, 6-2, 6-3 win over Italy’s Salvatore Caruso.