Murr Magic
> Murray in a hurry but Federer made to work by spirited qualifier
TOP seed Andy Murray sped into the Australian Open third round yesterday but bad boy Nick Kyrgios was booed and accused of not trying as he crashed to a stormy defeat.
Roger Federer progressed despite unexpected resistance and women’s world No. 1 Angelique Kerber celebrated her 29th birthday with a hard-fought win.
Murray painfully rolled an ankle and needed treatment in the third set against Russian qualifier Andrey Rublev, but he shook off the problem to win 6-3, 6-0, 6-2.
While the world No. 1 cruised, Kyrgios stood accused of tanking, or giving up, during his 1-6, 6-7 (1/7), 6-4, 6-2, 10-8 loss to Andreas Seppi.
Earlier Federer was made to work by 200thranked Noah Rubin for a 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) win that set up a third-round assignment against his old rival Tomas Berdych.
“I know what he’s got. I don’t need to tell you where he’s beaten me,” Federer said of Berdych. “Then again I’ve played him here, played him on many occasions, as well, when it went my way.”
Federer wasn’t the only leading player challenged in the second round as Kerber, the women’s defending champion, dropped a set against world No. 89 Carina Witthoeft, but winning 6-2, 6-7 (3/7), 6-2.
Japanese fifth seed Kei Nishikori marched into the third round alongside former finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, with both winning in straight sets.
Nishikori was extended to five sets in his first-round win over Andrey Kuznetsov, but he found the going a little easier in his 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 victory against Jeremy Chardy.
France’s Tsonga, who is seeded 12th and was runner-up to Novak Djokovic in 2008, beat Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 to go through.
Stan Wawrinka, the 2014 winner, recovered from his tetchy five-setter with Martin Klizan to beat Steve Johnson 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
In the women’s draw, 36-year-old Venus Williams continued her smooth progress when she beat qualifier Stefanie Voegele 6-3, 6-2 to set up a meeting with China’s Duan Yingying.
Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova thrashed Australian wildcard Jaimee Fourlis 6-2, 6-1 to set up a third-round clash with 31-year-old Serb Jelena Jankovic.
Garbine Muguruza proved too strong for American Samantha Crawford as the seventh seed overcame a tough examination to make the third round.
The hard-hitting Spaniard struggled through 7-5, 6-4 and will next play Latvian 32nd seed Anastasija Sevastova, who beat Kristina Kucova in two easy sets.
Britain’s Dan Evans claimed the highestranked scalp of his career when he stunned former US Open champion Marin Cilic, the world No. 7.
Evans, 26, came from behind to beat the Croatian 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-3 and reach the third round, equalling his best Grand Slam performance.– AFP
Roger Federer hits a return against Noah Rubin during their men’s singles match on Day 3 of the Australian Open in Melbourne yesterday.