By Chris Oddo | Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Roger Federer overcame a rough first set and a finger injury to sail past Simone Bolelli in four sets on Day 3.
Photo Source: Getty
Roger Federer dropped a set but he didn’t drop the ball.
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The Swiss maestro rallied after dropping the first set to Simone Bolelli of Italy to secure a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 victory and book his place in the third round.
Bolelli, who had never won a set from Federer in three previous encounters, came out of the gates with a perfect set to take the lead.
“He was really playing very well from the baseline,” Federer said. “I guess in these conditions sometimes a break can be a set. That's when I was under pressure for a while in the second set, but I'm happy I fought my way out of it.”
Federer finished with 36 winners against 23 unforced errors, and hammered 10 aces. He didn’t face a break point in the final three sets but he did encounter a bit of trouble. After the first set he had to call the trainer to have a mysterious injury on his finger looked at. Even after the match Federer still didn’t quite know what the injury was.
“I don't know if it's a blister,” he said. “I don't know what that thing is. It's the weirdest thing. I feel it on the tip of my finger. Just felt really odd starting after the break, and for three, four games, it was the funniest feeling I have. I feel like it's numb and swollen.”
Federer consulted with the trainer and elected not to tape it. After the match he said that it might have been a bee sting.
Bolelli would stay with Federer stroke-for-stroke until Federer broke with a sterling defensive point to lead 5-3 in the second set. In the next game an ace down the tee sealed the set, and it was all downhill for Federer in sets three and four.
Federer’s victory sets up a third-round encounter with another Italian, Andreas Seppi. Federer owns a 10-0 lifetime edge against Seppi.
Notes, Quotes, Tweets
Federer earned his 75th Australian Open victory. He has the most of any Open Era player.
Bolelli has now lost all 34 of his matches against top ten opposition.