Federer through to second round in Australian Open (Update)
Xinhua, January 19, 2015 Adjust font size:
World No. 2 Roger Federer beat Chinese Taipei's Lu Yen-Shun 6-4, 6-2, 7-5 to reach the second round of the Australian Open on Monday.
Federer, who has reached the semi-final stage at his last 11 Australian Opens, will next face Italy's Simone Bolelli, who defeat Argentina's Juan Monaco 5-7, 6-3, 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 earlier.
The 33-year-old Swiss maintained his unbeaten record in the first round at Melbourne Park in his 16th appearance.
Federer dominated the match until the 47th-ranked Lu battled hard in the third set, but Federer got his break point in 11th game then hold serve to seal the match in one hour and 53 minutes.
Despite the back injury, Federer had nine Aces and won 86 percent of points on his first serve.
"I was serving very well. I was holding my service games very comfortably. Until probably 5-2 in the second set was the first time he had any play on my service game." Federer said in the press conference.
"I was very happy.I was returning and able to dominate the plays from the back. I think he started to serve better in the third. I think conditions slowed down a bit."
The Swiss legend also show respect to his competitor.
"Instead of sort of just steamrolling through him he really made it tough for me. I don't want to say I got lucky to not be broken early on in the third, but he was playing some really good tennis," he said.
Endi