Australian Open: Roger Federer fights back after tough start

Roger Federer is alive and kicking at the Open after the 20-time major champion rebounded to beat Martin Fucsovics.

Switzerland's Roger Federer celebrates after victory against Hungary's Marton Fucsovics. Picture: AFP

Roger Federer is alive and kicking at the Australian Open after the 20-time major champion rebounded from his marathon five-setter against John Millman to beat Hungarian Martin Fucsovics 4-6 6-1 6-2 6-2 at Melbourne Park on Sunday night. He started slowly before finding his swashbuckling groove against an opponent who quickly became overwhelmed and outgunned.

“It was a tough start,” Federer said.

“I struggled to – I guess it was the rest of the Millman match. He gave me a beat-down from the baseline. Finally I found a way.

“The morning after Johnny’s match and this morning, I laid in bed and thought, when am I going to stand up? One, two, three, here we go! It’s been a pleasure to play here tonight.”

Fucsovics, the world number 67, won the opening set to raise the possibility of an upset to rival 23-time major champion Serena Williams’ defeat to China’s Xiang Wang.

He was clearly feeling more fresh than Federer, who was coming off his four-hour-and-26-minute ordeal against Millman.

Federer was not at his fleet-footed best in the early stages, half a step slower than normal, a product of his advanced years and the late-night marathon against Millman.

There seemed nothing too stunning about the 27-year-old Fucsovics running through the first set: he was merely played rock-solid tennis against a fatigued foe. But the 38-year-old Federer lifted as Fucsovics fell apart, booking a quarter-final against American Tennys Sandgren.

“It would be very special, very special,” Sandgren said.

“I was kicking myself that I lost to a too-good Sam Querrey at Wimbledon in the round of 16 because I would have played Rafa (Nadal) in the quarters.

“That would have been very special. I was a little upset I wasn’t able to get to that match. It would be incredibly special to be able to play Roger at least once in my career. To play him on a big stage, like quarters of a slam, would be a ton of fun, really.”

Federer laughed: “I’ve played a lot of tennis in my life, but never against Tennys!”

Federer blitzed though the second and third sets as if he was in dire need of a relatively early night. Fucsovics’ confidence was going south and taking all his momentum with it. Fucsovics desperately needed to hold his opening service game of the fourth set but he lost it in a blaze of wild errors.

Federer sensed the kill and played within himself, giving Fucsovics just enough rope to hang himself with, quietly pumping his fist as Fucsovics slumped. Federer served and volleyed with aplomb, he won 31 of 37 net points and broke Fucsovics on six occasions.

His quarter-final assignment against world number 100 Sandgren would continue his dream draw, the world number 47 Millman being his highest-ranked opponent before an expected semi-final against world number two Novak Djokovic.