Federer fends off British qualifier Evans
Double defending champion Roger Federer weathered a stern test from the impressive Dan Evans but wore down the British qualifier 7-6(5) 7-6(3) 6-3 to reach the third round of the Australian Open on Wednesday.
Having thrashed Denis Istomin in his Melbourne Park opener, third seed Federer encountered far stiffer resistance against the determined world number 189 Evans, who is rebuilding his career after missing a year due to a doping suspension.
Evans broke Federer for the first time in the tournament to drag the second set into a tiebreak but the Swiss was supreme on the clutch points at Rod Laver Arena.
He broke Evans in the fourth game of the third set and closed out the match with an imperious backhand winner down the line to set up a clash with either Gael Monfils or Taylor Fritz.
Highlights of Wednesday's third day of the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of the year (all times GMT):
After edging the first two sets against a determined Evans, Federer got into the groove in the third set and broke for a 3-1 lead before closing out the win in two hours and 35 minutes.
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Evans shoulders slim British hopes against Federer
0541 CILIC BEATS MCDONALD
Marin Cilic overcame a mid-match blip by losing the second set but recovered to defeat unseeded American Mackenzie McDonald 7-5 6-7(9) 6-4 6-4. The Croatian set up a third round meeting with Fernando Verdasco or Radu Albot.
0529 ANDERSON STUNNED BY TIAFOE
Fifth seed Kevin Anderson cruised through the opening set against Frances Tiafoe but lost his way thereafter, allowing the American youngster to seal a 4-6 6-4 6-4 7-5 upset victory.
0423 BARTY TOO GOOD FOR WANG
Local favourite Ashleigh Barty continued her strong start to the tournament as she thumped China's Wang Yafan 6-2 6-3 to move into the third round.
The 15th seed, who warmed up for the season's first major by reaching the final of last week's Sydney International, takes on Maria Sakkari in the third round after the Greek beat local qualifier Astra Sharma 6-1 6-4.
0305 TSITSIPAS MOVES PAST TROICKI
Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas had a brief hiccup against Serbian qualifier Viktor Troicki by dropping the second set but moved through to the third round with a 6-3 2-6 6-2 7-5 victory.
The 20-year-old Tsitsipas, who is revelling in the support from a vocal and large expat Greek community in Melbourne, will now face 19th-seeded Nikoloz Basilashvili in the third round after the Georgian needed five sets to overcome Italian qualifier Stefano Travaglia.
0203 STEPHENS ADVANCES TO FACE MARTIC
American fifth seed Sloane Stephens moved past Timea Babos 6-3 6-1 to set up a third round clash with Croatia's Petra Martic.
0149 SASNOVICH'S SENSE OF HUMOUR ON POINT
Aliaksandra Sasnovich was in a jocular mood following her 6-3 6-3 victory over 20th seed Anett Kontaveit.
"I will of course go eat McDonalds and eat some Nutella," she said when asked how she would prepare for the next round where she meets Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who upset ninth seed Kiki Bertens 3-6 6-3 6-3.
"No. I'm joking. I will of course go shopping."
0115 GARCIA SHRUGS OFF ATTACK OF HIVES
Women's 19th seed Caroline Garcia ended the hopes of Australian Zoe Hives to become the first player into the third round with a 6-3 6-3 victory in just 65 minutes on the 1573 Arena.
The 22-year-old Hives had provided something of a boost for local fans on Monday when she beat American Bethanie Mattek-Sands in the first round, but was unable to hold off the Frenchwoman, who now will meet either Sachia Vickery or Danielle Collins in the third round.
0010 PLAY UNDERWAY AT MELBOURNE PARK
Play got underway on schedule under sunny skies at 11 a.m. local time (0000 GMT) with the temperature hovering just under the 23 degrees Celsius mark with a forecast high of 26C
