Roger Federer defeats Alexander Kudryavtsev in the opening round – Australian Open 2012
World number three, Roger Federer, outclassed the Russian qualifier, Alexander Kudryavtsev, in straight sets at the Australian Open 2012 on Monday. He formulated a 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 success over the 26-year-old Russian to book a second round spot at this first
Grand Slam event taking place on the hard courts in Melbourne, Australia.
A former world number one, Federer, stayed on track to become the second man in the Australian Open history to win five titles after dumping the qualifier, ranked 172nd in the South African Airways ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World
Rankings, in straight sets. The Swiss not only took lead in the head-to-head series by 1-0 against Kudryavtsev but also inched closer to the $2.3 million prize money.
Swiss Ace stepped at the Rod Laver Arena with conviction and easily plucked in entire serves without facing any hindrance. He capitalised on one out of four break opportunities in the last game and clinched the opener with a 7-5 score line.
Federer carried his winning ways in the second set and earned the critical break in the fourth game, subsequently going 4-1 up. Later, he held remaining serves and broke the Russian’s serve again in the last game, sealing the deal by winning six games to
two.
Third seed improved his ways in the third set and after earning an early break of serve, he went 3-0 up. Regardless of losing his edge in the fifth game, the Swiss wiped out the final three games and bagged the set with a 6-2 win.
Overall, the Swiss number one clobbered a higher first serve share of 63 percent as opposed to Kudryavtsev’s 42 percent and clinched spectacular 44 out of 55 points on it. Mustering the match further, Federer smashed 14 aces and hammered 43 massive winners
to dominate.
"I'm always excited," the Swiss Master said about the Melbourne grand Slam. "I felt it actually walking down that Walk of Champions, getting out on court and feeling like, you know what, I have good intensity and I am really excited to see the Aussie crowd.
I was anxious to find out how I was going to play, how my opponent was going to play me. I was really excited and a little nervous actually going into it, which was a good feeling to have. I'm looking forward to the other matches."
Next up for the 16 times Grand Slam champion is the German star, Andreas Beck, who battled past French challenger, Eric Prodon, in four sets to reach this spot.
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