Australian Open defending champion and 19-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff in straight sets -- 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 -- to advance into the third round of the tournament at Melbourne Park on Thursday.
The World no. 2 was being made to sweat a little by Struff, seeded 55, as he broke Federer's serve in the third set, for the first time in this tournament, to lead 3-1 but the Swiss came back to clinch victory in a tie-break.
Federer will next face Frenchman Richard Gasquet in the round of 32 on Saturday.
Gasquet beat Italy's Lorenzo Sonego 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 to book his place in the next round.
The temperature had dropped to 29 C (84 F) by the time Federer wrapped up his win over Struff just after 11:30 p.m. on Rod Laver Arena.
For a while, Swiss compatriots Federer and Stan Wawrinka were playing on adjoining courts at the same time, but their fitness and results were contrasting.
Wawrinka was appeared lethargic and generally didn't threaten 26-year-old Tennys Sandgren, who had never beaten a top 10 player. His wins in the first two rounds here make Sandgren 2-0 at majors. On Thursday, Sandgren outclassed Wawrinka by 6-2, 6-1, 6-4.
Wawrinka won Australian Open in 2014, at the French Open the following year and the US Open in 2016. Until this week, he hadn't played since Wimbledon last July.
(With agencies inputs)
