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Australian Open, day 4 wrap: Federer, Djokovic win; Women face the heat

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The fourth day of Australian Open saw players fighting gruel hit on the court along with their opponents in the second round of the first Grand Slam of the year. It was a mixed day for the top seeds in men as Federer won in three sets while his compatriot Stan Wawrinka was beaten in similar number of sets. Rising talent Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic won in 4 sets while Sam Querrey lost.

In the women’s section Maria Sharapova stormed into the third round while Garbine Muguruza was stunned.

Roger Federer

Federer has never lost in Melbourne Park before third round and that record remained intact as he defeated Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(4) in the second round. He will next face 29th seeded Richard Gasquet.

2nd seeded Federer of Switzerland started the game as anticipated and was up a break in just the fifth game of the match. He didn’t need any more of them in the first set as he sealed the set 6-4. The second set headed in the same direction. Though the German troubled Federer once or twice with his serve and some superb returns but those were a rarity.

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It seemed the match would last a bit longer when Struff broke Federer in the third game to take a lead. But Federer, being Federer, bounced back immediately to break his opponent in the very next game. Nerves were clearly visible in the tie breaker as Federer put the game to bed.

Stan Wawrinka

Struggling Swiss former winner Stan Wawrinka was knocked out of the Australian Open by American Tennys Sandgren in the second round on Thursday.

The 97th-ranked Sandgren defeated ninth seeded Wawrinka 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 and will next play Germany’s Maximilian Marterer. Sandgren fired 9 aces in the match.

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It has been tough so far this year for Wawrinka, who was playing in his first tournament since Wimbledon six months ago following left knee surgery.

He was never in the contest and had his serve broken five times and made only 21 winners and 35 unforced errors.

Alexander Zverev

Young gun Alexander Zverev powered into the third round at the Australian Open with a solid win over fellow German Peter Gojowczyk on Thursday.

The world No 4, just 20, took almost two hours to put away the 62nd-ranked Gojowczyk 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 on Hisense Arena.

Zverev will face another “NextGen” star Chung Hy-eon of South Korea in the next round on Saturday.

Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic felt conditions were “right on the limit” of safety as the temperature soared at the Australian Open before winning his second round match against Gael Monfils 4-6 6-3 6-1 6-3 in two hours and 45 minutes as the temperature hit 39 degree Celsius.

Monfils took the first set but suffered in the second, complaining of dizziness and leaving the court with a doctor.

Juan Martin del Potro, Dominic Thiem and Tomas Berdych also won their matches while Sam Querrey and David Goffin were dumped out.

Let us now have a look at the women’s results

Simona Halep

Top seed Simona Halep beat Eugenie Bouchard 6-2 6-2 in an hour and seven minutes despite playing in pain.

The 26-year-old Romanian world number one, seeking her first Grand Slam title, turned her ankle in her first-round win over Destanee Aiava.

Garbine Muguruza

Garbine Muguruza was beaten in straight sets by world number 88 Hsieh Su-wei in the Australian Open second round.

The Wimbledon champion, seeded third, struggled physically as temperatures soared in Melbourne and had treatment to her left foot in the first set.

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Taiwanese player Hsieh, 32 – who won 7-6 (7-1) 6-4 – will play 26th seed Agnieszka Radwanska in the third round.

Maria Sharapova

Five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova beat 14th seed Anastasija Sevastova in straight sets to reach the third round of the Australian Open.

The Russian, beaten in three sets by the Latvian at the US Open last year, won 6-1 7-6 (7-4) in one hour and 20 minutes.

Sharapova, 30, was broken when serving for the match at 5-4, but recovered to win the tie-break on Rod Laver Arena.

 

Ninth seeded Johanna Konta was stunned while Radwanska, Garcia and Strycova all survived in three sets.

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