2011 Australian Open: Roger Federer survives scare against Gilles Simon
2010 titlist and four-time champion, Roger Federer survived a late scare against Gilles Simon before securing a five set win in his second round match at the Australian Open today.
Appearing for the 12th time at the event, Federer won his fourth Australian Open title in 2010 after he defeated top Brit, Andy Murray. In an attempt to defend his title, Federer looks to win it for the fifth time and
break Andre Agassi’s record of most Australian Open titles held.
Having moved past Lukas Lacko in the first round without breaking a sweat, Federer setup a second round clash with Frenchman Gilles Simon. Simon had moved ahead in the event after bouncing back from being one set down in the first
round against Yen-Hsun Lu.
Simon is one of those few players who hold a lead against the Swiss maestro in their head-to-head score. However, today Federer was able to reduce this lead to 2-1 after he defeated the Frenchman in an exciting five setter.
Simon’s serve was broken twice in the first set and once in the second set by Federer. As a result, the latter led 2-0 in the set score with a 6-2, 6-3 win.
What seemed like a straight sets win for Federer turned into a battle for survival as Simon turned the tables on him. Bouncing back in the third set, Simon won two consecutive sets to level the set score taking the match into a
decisive fifth set.
Serving for the thirty-eighth game, Federer opened the fifth set and rushed into the lead, leading the score 5-1. Despite losing the next two games, Federer was able to secure a 6-3 win and ensure his survival in the event.
Federer will next meet Xavier Malisse in his title defence on 21 January.
Joining Federer in the second round is his compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka. Enjoying a no set loss record so far in the event, Wawrinka dismissed Teymuraz Gabashvili in the first round before doing away with qualifier Grigor Dimitrov
in the second round. The score line for the second match was 7-5, 6-3, 6-3.
Wawrinka is going strong in the event so far and he will play twelfth seed Gael Monfils later in the week.
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