By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, January 22, 2020

 

Roger Federer fired 42 winners and broke serve seven times dismissing Filip Krajinovic 6-1, 6-4, 6-1 to set up an AO third-round match vs. a familiar nemesis.

Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve

Roger Federer knows all about the highs and lows of Grand Slam tennis.

Arriving for his 21st consecutive Australian Open, Federer proclaimed his expectations "quite low."

More: AO Day 3 By the Numbers

Through two rounds, the third-seeded Swiss has shown pure upside.

Federer flew by Filip Krajinovic 6-1, 6-4, 6-1 sticking a smooth landing for his 99th career Australian Open victory.

Breaking twice in succession, Federer burst out to a 4-0 lead and never looked back.

Ripping his forehand return deep and chipping his backhand short, Federer kept Krajinovic off balance breaking serve seven times and winning 16 of 20 points played on the Serbian's second serve.

The third-seeded Swiss has permitted just 13 games in improving to 41-0 in the first two rounds of the Australian Open.

"I don't know if I played better today than I did in my first match," said Federer, who swept Steve Johnson in the opener. "It was very different tactically, to be honest. I think Filip has his game much more based on his backhand and Steve with his forehand. It's like reverse in these two matches.

"He served a very high first-serve percentage. In some ways you can't control exactly how the points are being played out. Of course, if somebody else serves and volleys a little bit, there's always a tendency for more winners."

The victory vaults Federer into a third-round rematch with Aussie nemesis John Millman.

On a steamy New York City night, a stubborn Millman scored a stunning 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(7), 7-6(3) victory over Federer to secure his spot in the 2018 US Open quarterfinals. At one point Federer was serving for the second set with a 5-4, 40-15 lead, but in a span of minutes he had been broken twice and was even at a set apiece. Humidity was so severe that night Federer conceded afterward he was just happy to be off court to recover.

Conditions are expected to be much more comfortable when the pair square off for a spot in the fourth round.

Still, Federer knows how tough the super-fit Aussie can be and vows vigilance in the rematch.

"I was just happy it was over. I never had that," Federer said. "I rather go back in time, If I could play that match again... But I don't have that feeling about that match.

"I was just happy the US Open was over and I could focus on other things, recover, all that. I think it was a combination of many things that went wrong for me on that day, plus the opponent was ready and tough as nails."



The 47th-ranked Millman upset 31st-seeded Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 and asserts he must pick up his play to make major lightning strike twice.

"I’m going to definitely be the underdog. No doubt about it,” Millman said "The stars aligned one night for me at Flushing Meadows, but Roger is one of the greatest ever. He's a class act and there's no doubt I'm going to have to bring my A game and improve on this performance."