MELBOURNE, Australia – With the sun setting at the end of a torridly hot day at the Australian Open, Roger Federer ensured he made the most of a favorable evening draw.
Wearing bright pink shoelaces, Federer advanced to the third round with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 win over Russian Nikolay Davydenko on Thursday.
The 17-time Grand Slam champion was a winner of sorts before he even stepped out at Rod Laver Arena, having received the luck of the draw – a 7pm start time after the worst of the 100-plus-degree heat had subsided.
“I’m very happy to have played so well against him,” Federer said of his 18th win over Davydenko in their 20 matches.
US Open champion Andy Murray had another easy win Thursday, a 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 victory over Joao Sousa of Portugal.
Murray, who ended a 76-year drought by British men in Grand Slam tournaments with his win at Flushing Meadows last year, dropped only seven games in his opening match against Robin Haase of the Netherlands.
On Thursday, the third-seeded Murray didn’t allow Sousa a single break point chance in steamy conditions at Melbourne Park. – espn.go
