Melbourne, Australia, Jan 16: Roger Federer began the quest for his 17th Grand Slam title with a 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 first-round victory over qualifier Alexander Kudryavtsev of Russia at the Australian Open on Monday.
The third-ranked Federer captured the first two sets and was up a break in the third before the Russian came rallied with a break of serve in the fifth game of the final set.
Federer, however, broke Kudryavtsev in the next game with a backhand crosscourt winner and sealed the match when the Russian hit a forehand wide.
Federer is aiming for his first Grand Slam title since the 2010 Australian Open.
