Close menu

Australian Open: Roger Federer beats Marton Fucsovics in straight sets

Last updated on .From the section Tenniscomments66

Roger Federer
Roger Federer has won the Australian Open five times
2018 Australian Open
Dates: 15-28 January Venue: Melbourne Park
Coverage: Watch highlights on BBC Two, the BBC Sport website and app. Live commentary on the best matches on BBC Radio 5 live, 5 live sports extra and online.

Defending champion Roger Federer eased through to the Australian Open quarter-finals with a straight-set win over Hungary's Marton Fucsovics.

The 19-time Grand Slam winner is yet to lose a set at Melbourne Park this year, seeing off world number 80 Fucsovics 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 6-2.

Second seed Federer, 36, will face Czech Tomas Berdych in the last eight, who he beat in last year's third round.

"I am sure he wants to make me pay for that one," said Federer.

"I saw his matches, he is standing up hitting big shots and I am glad he's back."

The Swiss was in superb form on Rod Laver Arena, playing in the day session for the first time in 2018, as he made quick work of Fucsovics to win in two hours, one minute.

"Playing at night, going to bed at 3am, is a different rhythm to playing in the day time," he added.

It took Federer four break points to earn an advantage in the first set, before taking the second on a tie-break.

But the five-time Australian Open winner broke early in the third and followed up with another break of serve to set up a repeat of last year's third round.

Berdych, the 19th seed, earned his place in the last eight with a 6-1 6-4 6-4 win over Italy's Fabio Fognini.

Follow tennis with the BBC
Alerts: Tennis news sent to your phone

Comments

Join the conversation

These comments are now closed.

66 comments

  • Comment posted by Les, at 14:44 22 Jan 2018

    Not really sure why there are so many anti Federer posts on here. The man is simply the greatest all round tennis player ever. Clay is perhaps his only sign of weakness although that seems only to be when faced with Nadal. We should be grateful that we had the privilege to see him in his prime. Nadal has been fantastic too. Shame on you trolls

  • Comment posted by Suva, at 07:39 22 Jan 2018

    All the people complaining about scheduling should understand that sponsors and TVs have big influence on this. No point blaming Federer for that.

  • Comment posted by Finkelstein, at 08:23 22 Jan 2018

    Roger Federer is playing superb tennis. His serve and forehand are brilliant. He absolutely outclassed Marton Fucsovics from start to finish. His ability to up his game when needed is extraordinary. In this form he is again the favourite. Tomas Berdych awaits in the last eight and that should give Federer a good work out.

  • Comment posted by colleen, at 14:03 22 Jan 2018

    Anyone tried of watching Federer and/ or Nadal play is probably watching the wrong sport. They 2 of the greatest tennis players of all time and currently they're playing AT their best.

  • Comment posted by RugbyRugbyRugby, at 13:54 22 Jan 2018

    I don’t get how it would be dull if Rafa or fed win again? It’s bloody remarkable either is close to the level they are given age, years played and injuries suffered!

  • Comment posted by John Shaw, at 08:48 22 Jan 2018

    RE 2 Nolant - playing the night session is not without its disadvantages ;a late finish followed by media commitments & post match physio means played won't get to bed until 2 or 3 am

  • Comment posted by U16231627, at 10:34 22 Jan 2018

    20. Posted by mercedesman

    "@17 Federer is 10x better than laver ever was,laver would never have competed in the modern era."

    All you show is your own utter ignorance of the game. Why not look at what some of today's 'greats' (Sampras and Federer included) say about Laver nd how they've been influenced by him before spouting off?

  • Comment posted by LivingDeadGrrrl, at 16:15 22 Jan 2018

    @53 - If you think Federer has had an easy draw, look at Nadal's draw in last year's US Open. Did not face one player ranked in the top 20. The seeding system works so the top seeds play each other deeper into the tournament. Sometimes seeds fall early against lower ranked players. There is no blame to the AO organisers for results, blame players losing to lower ranked players, it happens.

  • Comment posted by gazismad, at 14:06 22 Jan 2018

    Can't believe people are moaning about Feds draw they obviously don't watch much tennis. He won it last year seeded 15 and had four tough matches
    This year the seeds have been knocked out early is that RF fault
    Before this generation players peaked aged 25 ish and were finished by 30
    The top four of this generation who are all future HOF have just bucked the trend
    Quick surface - RF favourite

  • Comment posted by Peter, at 13:07 22 Jan 2018

    Come on guys,

    Fed’s draw was Querrey, Del Potro then Djokovic - Much harder they just lost! Also in that half was Zerev, Thiem, Stan and Berdych who is on a tear.
    The other half was empty…..

  • Comment posted by bagman, at 13:03 22 Jan 2018

    24 LB It's not Fed's fault if Zverev Djokovic and Thiem can't get passed opponents... have you forgotten about the draw from round 1?

  • Comment posted by LivingDeadGrrrl, at 12:55 22 Jan 2018

    @33 - Berdych has a decent H2H with Federer and has beaten him twice in slams previously. It,s no walkover for Roger. Chung is the most talented of the next gen, very similar game to Djokovic and Roger has always found it hard against Novak so that's not an easy match either. Nadal hasn't exactly had a tough draw either. Top ranks get a better draw.

  • Comment posted by Mark Fletcher, at 11:57 22 Jan 2018

    Why would we want to have an unseeded draw. Top players will play each other anyway just in earlier rounds this making for more uncompetitive later rounds!? As for the negative RF and RN comments. Sorry folks but Fed v Nadal is still the most box office matech out there and the one which will have the highest quality so here's hop No for many more finals between these 2.

  • Comment posted by Oh Danny boy, at 10:53 22 Jan 2018

    For those of you running the inane "Laver/Federer" arguments again - it's not possible to compare eras. Laver won two season slams but at the time three of them were played on grass...the surface on which Federer has been peerless.

  • Comment posted by clucas, at 13:51 22 Jan 2018

    Federer has not yet been tested and I think Berdych will go out all guns blazing and take the first set. I think it will be a close match but Fed will prevail

  • Comment posted by OLDMAN, at 12:14 22 Jan 2018

    Laver v Federer, smaller headed wooden rackets might even it up a little, but Federer's height advantage would probably tell in the end. Still never seen anyone hit the ball harder and more accurately with a wooden racket than Laver.

  • Comment posted by mch, at 11:54 22 Jan 2018

    Thomas Berdych played very well against RF at Wimbledon, especially on serve - but RF was on fire by then. TB can give any player a tough match on his day. RF has had a few relatively easy matches, but from now the challenge is much greater. Let's hope for a great contest, and wish good luck to both players.

  • Comment posted by We_are_doomed, at 08:56 22 Jan 2018

    RF will be the GOAT forever! 🐐

  • Comment posted by Des Parrott, at 08:42 22 Jan 2018

    If Berdy nicks a breaker or two could be a test for Fed. Fed looking imperious on serve. Djoker currently struggling in his match and if he does get to meet Fed in semi he could be fatigued and get blown off court.

  • Comment posted by squiney, at 16:48 22 Jan 2018

    lot of morons on here again moaning about the draw, its a draw get over it, other than the top 32 seeds its open, before the tournament started people moaning saying Rafa had an easy draw, now Roger, suggest you find a new sport to watch like tiddly winks

Top Stories

In Case You Missed It...

Tennis coverage

Featured