Melbourne: Defending champion Roger Federer matched Jimmy Connors' record for consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinals appearances, beating Tommy Robredo 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 on Sunday in the Australian Open.
Federer has reached the quarterfinals in 27 consecutive majors since a third-round loss in the 2004 French Open to tie Connors' Open-era record.
The 16-time Grand Slam winner didn't concede a point on serve in the first set but had a lapse in the second when Robredo's serve was dominant and he took a set off Federer for only the third time in 10 matches.
"I was struggling with my return. I couldn't get the balls into play I wanted to," Federer said. "I didn't have the best of games at 4-3 down. We don't have much margin at the very top and it shows."
Federer regained control in the third set and dominated after getting an early break to lead 2-0.
"It's a lot of hard work. I'm sweating bullets right now," he said. "I'm excited to be in the next round."
Federer is trying to become only the second man to win five Australian Open titles.
Comments
0 comment