TENNIS AO2015 – Roger Federer started his Australian Open campaign on his 16th appearance in the Down Under Grand Slam with a 6-4 6-2 7-5 win over Taiwanese Yen Hsun Lu in the opening round in the night session at the famous Rod Laver Arena at Melbourne Park. Diego Sampaolo
AO 2015: Interviews, Results, Order of Play, Draws
Roger Federer, the third player in tennis history to reach the 1000 match win milestone when he lifted his 83th title at the Brisbane International earlier this month, has reached the semifinal stage for 11 straight years in Melbourne. He will be bidding to become the second man In the Australian Open history to win five titles. Roy Emerson is the player with more wins at the Happy Slam with six titles (1961, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966 and 1967).
Federer , who is playing his 66th consecutive Grand Slam, won his third head-to-head match against Yen Hsun Lu in straight sets after Wimbledon 2009 and Shanghai 2012. The Taiwanese player, who is ranked Number 47 in the world, did not convert any of his four break point chances.
Yen Hsun Lu faced five break point chances at the start of the match but Federer could not convert on them. The 17-time Grand Slam champion converted on his first break point in the fifth game of the opening set to take a 3-2 lead. Federer ended the first set with 20 winners to just 6 for Yen Hsun Lu. Federer got two breaks for 3-2 and 5-2 in the second set.
In the first two sets Federer won 70 percent of his first serve points and hit 36 winners to 20 unforced errors but he converted on just three of his twelve break point chances.
In the third set Yen Hsun Lu earned two break point chances in the opening game but Federer saved them. The third set went on serve until the 11th game at 5-4 for Yen Hsun Lu but Federer broke serve to draw level to 5-5 before converting on his second match point to close out with 6-4 6-2 7-5 after 112 minutes. For Federer it was the 74th in 85 matches in the Australian Open. He clinched his last Australian Open title in 2010 and reached the semifinals in the past four years.
Federer set up a second match against Simone Bolelli, who overcame Argentina’s Juan Monaco in four sets with 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-1. Federer won his previous three matches against Bolelli without dropping a set.
“Lu played a tough match. I had to step up. It was tough to get the rhythm but we had good rallies”, said Federer in the post-match interview.
