ATP Australian Open: Roaring Roger Federer moves closer to QF spot

On Friday night, Roger Federer advanced to the fourth round of the Australian Open for the 18th time, ousting John Millman in a thriller to stay on the course for the seventh crown in Melbourne. The 38-year-old Swiss had to recover the stamina and energy for the Sunday's clash against Marton Fucsovics who claimed the first set 6-4 with a single break, with concerns raised above Federer and his fans about his physical strength following that Millman marathon. As always before, Federer was able to shift into a higher gear and impose his shots on the court, hitting 11 winners and ten unforced errors in set number two to steal the Hungarian's serve twice and grab the set 6-1, boosting his momentum ahead of set number three.

Both players struggled to find the first serve and it was Roger who played better in the decisive moments, converting three break chances and suffering one break for a 6-2. Marton got broken in the first game after a mediocre drop shot that couldn't pass the net, with Federer holding at 15 in game two to confirm the break and establish the advantage. The Swiss ruled the court in those moments, landing a forehand winner in the third game to move further in front and repelling two break chances in the next game to move 4-0 up and closer to the finish line.

Fucsovics held at 15 in the fifth game with a service winner and earned two break points in game six following a forehand error from Roger, converting the second after a backhand error from world no. 3 to pull one break back. Returning in game seven, Federer clinched the third break of the set with a beautiful backhand crosscourt winner, serving for the set after the break. Marton wasted a break chance that could have kept him in the set a little bit longer, closing the set with two volley winners that sent him one step away from victory. 

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2RTKh6H