Federer secures record-breaking win

January 21, 2011

Roger Federer beat the mark he previously shared with his idol, Sweden's two-time Australian Open winner Stefan Edberg.

 

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Roger Federer sets record for matches won at the Australian Open on Friday
• His triumph over Xavier Malisse was his 57th at the Melbourne tournament
• Third seed Novak Djokovic also through as Viktor Troicki pulls out of third-round match
• American Andy Roddick and Tomas Berdych also secure places in the last 16

Defending champion Roger Federer set a record for matches won at the Australian Open with Friday's third-round success over Xavier Malisse.
The 29-year-old secured a 6-3 6-3 6-1 victory over the Belgian to earn his 57th win in Melbourne and take him past previous record-holder Stefan Edberg.
World No. 2 Federer, a four-time winner of the event, said he was pleased to break Edberg's Open era record, but he admitted the retired Swede is still someone he looks up to.
"It's very nice, but he still stays my idol," Federer, who shares the record of five final appearances with Edberg, told the tournament's website.
The 16-time major champion -- also a record -- was happy with his performance following a testing five-set clash with Gilles Simon on Wednesday.

It's very nice, but he still stays my idol
--Roger Federer on Stefan Edberg

"I'm happy I was able to come through it. It's surely not the easiest thing to come back after a five-setter, but I managed. I'm sure that another day of rest is going to do me good."
Injury ends Venus' Melbourne hopes
Tommy Robredo stands between Federer and a 27th consecutive grand slam quarterfinal after the unseeded Spaniard's 5-7 6-2 6-4 6-2 triumph over Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky.
Third seed Novak Djokovic is into the fourth round after his Davis Cup teammate Viktor Troicki was forced to retire from their clash.
Serbia's 2008 champion Djokovic led Troicki 6-2 when the 29th seed withdrew with a stomach issue.
"He obviously tried his best," Djokovic said of Troicki on the ATP Tour's website.
"It's the third round of a grand slam. It's not the way you want to finish the tournament, definitely. It's sad for him, but I have to move on."
The 23-year-old will play 14th seed Nicolas Almagro in the last 16 following the Spaniard's 6-4 7-6 (10-8) 6-3 win against Croatian No. 17 Ivan Ljubicic.
Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych advanced with a straight-sets dismissal of Richard Gasquet.
Berdych equaled his best performance at the tournament with his 6-2 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 victory over the French 28th seed, and he will meet fellow top-10 player Fernando Verdasco in the last 16.
Spanish ninth seed Verdasco, who reached the semifinals in Melbourne in 2009, overcame Kei Nishikori of Japan 6-2 6-4 6-3.
American eighth seed Andy Roddick fell one set behind in his match with Dutchman Robin Haase before he won a second-set tie-break and consequently the contest 2-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 6-2.
Roddick, a four-time semifinalist, will next face Stanislas Wawrinka after the Swiss player dispatched French 12th seed Gael Monfils 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 6-3.
On Saturday, world No. 1 Rafael Nadal continues his bid to hold all four grand slam titles as he plays 199th-ranked Bernard Tomic of Austria in the third round.

Swedish fourth seed Robin Soderling and British No. 5 Andy Murray are also in action.