Federer happy that he dodged a few questions from Ferrell

MELBOURNE: DEFENDING champion Roger Federer moved smoothly into his majestic stride with a straightsets win over Slovenian Aljaz Bedene in his opening match at the Australian Open yesterday.

The 36-year-old Swiss turned the evening clash in a packed Rod Laver Arena into an exhibition as he struck 41 winners to breeze past a willing, but outclassed Bedene 6-3 6-4 6-3.

The only time Federer looked remotely stumped came during a post-match interview conducted by American comedian Will Ferrell who told him he had played like a “silky gazelle”.

“Don’t they get eaten in the end,” Federer ventured before being asked whether he was a witch or a vampire and whether his age-defying performances were down to a diet of wombat meat.

“I was a bit scared. I’m happy I dodged some questions there.”

While Ferrell provided some unexpected comedy, Federer again proved that when it comes to tennis he is king of the jungle.

Any player hoping to stop him retaining his title and claiming a 20th grand slam will have to be pretty special on this evidence.

Novak Djokovic exceeded expectations on his return to grand-slam action at the Australian Open yesterday but the Serb should brace for doubts to re-surface during tougher matches, according to former world number one Mats Wilander.

Djokovic routed 63rd-ranked American Donald Young 6-1 6-2 6-4 at Margaret Court Arena to reach the second round at Melbourne Park, his first match since retiring with elbow trouble during the Wimbledon quarter-finals.

The 12-times grand-slam champion was thrilled with his performance, having known only a few weeks before that he would compete in the tournament.

“I thought he looked very good. He was fresh, he was moving well,” Wilander told Reuters.

“You would think maybe on paper it would have been a little bit closer because Donald Young is a solid player, but maybe Djokovic was just too good. He looked great.

“I think it was expectations.”

Seeded 14th, Djokovic faces a bigger test in the next round against Frenchman Gael Monfils, a former quarter-finalist at Melbourne Park.

“You would think maybe, because (Djokovic) hasn’t played matches, at some point he would lack some confidence in a close match or a close set,” Wilander said.

“You never know. When it’s easy it’s going to be no problem. When it gets tough that’s above when you know what’s going to hold up and what’s not.”

Stan Wawrinka feels great to be back after his first-round victory at the Australian Open but is still experiencing pain in the left knee that required surgery last season.

The Swiss former champion, seeded ninth, beat Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis 6-3 6-4 2-6 7-6(2) in his first competitive match for six months to set up a second-round clash with American Tennys Sandgren.

“Great to be back. It’s great to win, for sure. Was a tough one in all aspects of the game,” Wawrinka, who won the first of his three grand slams in Melbourne in 2014, said. – Reuters