Tennis: Federer, Djokovic, Safin Into Round Three
January 21st 2009 15:45
Roger Federer dominated Russian qualifier Evgeny Korolev to set up a mouth-watering clash with Marat Safin at the Australian Open, while Novak Djokovic's title defence remains on track. Federer confirmed the third-round blockbuster with Safin with an emphatic three-set victory at the Australian Open.
The second-seeded Swiss crushed Russian Evgeny Korolev 6-2 6-3 6-1 in just 87 minutes after former Australian Open champion Safin outclassed Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 7-5 6-2 6-2 in his second-round match.
Safin beat Federer in an epic semi-final at Melbourne Park in 2005 before going on to beat Lleyton Hewitt in the final to land his second grand slam title.
The Russian has said 2009 will be his last season on the tour.
Meanwhile, Djokovic's Australian Open title defence remains on track after the Serb cruised into the third round.
Djokovic needed just one hour and 44 minutes to defeat Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 7-5 6-1 6-3 at Rod Laver Arena.
The Serbian's defeat of the world's 73rd-ranked player was hardly a pointer to his prospects of another Open title, but he said he was satisfied with his progress.
"I'm playing better and better which is very encouraging," Djokovic said.
He said he couldn't compare his form this year with that which won him last year's Open.
"It's pretty difficult because I'm in two different situations," he said.
"Right now, physically I feel better, game wise it's different."
The No.3 seed next faces American Amer Delic on Friday for a place in the last 16.
David Nalbandian, the No.10 seed from Argentina lost his second-round match 6-4 5-7 4-6 6-4 6-2 to Taiwan's Yen-Hsun Lu in the first big upset of the tournament.
"This is the first time I've beaten a top 10 player, and it's in a Grand Slam." Lu said.
"It was really tough out there for me today,
"There are a lot of fans here from Taiwan and they really supported me and helped me get through."
The loss marks Nalbandian's worst performance at the Australian Open since he exited at the same stage in his fist visit to Melbourne in 2002.
Fellow seeds Stanislas Wawrinka, David Ferrer, Marin Cilic, Tommy Robredo and Mardy Fish were all successful, each safely progressing to the last 32.
Following his match, Djokovic joined the push against British star Andy Murray, declaring him an unworthy favourite for the year's first grand slam.
"I like him as a person and as a player," Djokovic said.
"He's done a lot in the last couple of months and he's a very talented player and we can expect him to win some grand slams in the future.
"But you cannot put him as one of the favourites next to Roger and Rafa (Nadal) and myself here at the Open."
The second-seeded Swiss crushed Russian Evgeny Korolev 6-2 6-3 6-1 in just 87 minutes after former Australian Open champion Safin outclassed Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 7-5 6-2 6-2 in his second-round match.
Safin beat Federer in an epic semi-final at Melbourne Park in 2005 before going on to beat Lleyton Hewitt in the final to land his second grand slam title.
The Russian has said 2009 will be his last season on the tour.
Novak Djokovic
Meanwhile, Djokovic's Australian Open title defence remains on track after the Serb cruised into the third round.
Djokovic needed just one hour and 44 minutes to defeat Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 7-5 6-1 6-3 at Rod Laver Arena.
The Serbian's defeat of the world's 73rd-ranked player was hardly a pointer to his prospects of another Open title, but he said he was satisfied with his progress.
"I'm playing better and better which is very encouraging," Djokovic said.
He said he couldn't compare his form this year with that which won him last year's Open.
"It's pretty difficult because I'm in two different situations," he said.
"Right now, physically I feel better, game wise it's different."
The No.3 seed next faces American Amer Delic on Friday for a place in the last 16.
David Nalbandian, the No.10 seed from Argentina lost his second-round match 6-4 5-7 4-6 6-4 6-2 to Taiwan's Yen-Hsun Lu in the first big upset of the tournament.
"This is the first time I've beaten a top 10 player, and it's in a Grand Slam." Lu said.
"It was really tough out there for me today,
"There are a lot of fans here from Taiwan and they really supported me and helped me get through."
The loss marks Nalbandian's worst performance at the Australian Open since he exited at the same stage in his fist visit to Melbourne in 2002.
Fellow seeds Stanislas Wawrinka, David Ferrer, Marin Cilic, Tommy Robredo and Mardy Fish were all successful, each safely progressing to the last 32.
Following his match, Djokovic joined the push against British star Andy Murray, declaring him an unworthy favourite for the year's first grand slam.
"I like him as a person and as a player," Djokovic said.
"He's done a lot in the last couple of months and he's a very talented player and we can expect him to win some grand slams in the future.
"But you cannot put him as one of the favourites next to Roger and Rafa (Nadal) and myself here at the Open."
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