Federer Survives Scare, Favored In Second Round Of Australian Open

Sports News - January 20th, 2010 - Written By Bryan

Entering the first-round at the Australian Open this week, Roger Federer had never faltered in an opening match of a major played on a hard-court surface. That streak was nearly endanger of coming to an abrupt end, in-part to a valiant effort by Russian, Igor Andreev.

Andreev is known for having one of the strongest forehand shots in the game and, against Federer, kept the world's best on his heels. By the conclusion of the match however, Federer was able to assert himself, avoiding what would have been a monumental upset at the Australian Open. Federer winning 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (2), 6-0.

"I thought I was playing well in the first set, even when I lost it," Federer said directly after the match. "He was maybe getting tired and missing shots near the end, but I think he's a wonderful player. It was a tough first round, so really, really relieved I'm through."

Andreev has a history of giving Federer a difficult time. The 37th ranked player in the world pushed Federer to a five-setter two years ago at the U.S Open, in a fourth-round match up.

However, none could have expected the output exhibited by Andreev this week against Federer. He has gotten off to a very rocky start in his 2010 campaign, compiling a mediocre 1-3 singles record. At the close of 2009, Andreev had lost of eight of his last nine matches.

Andreev had apparently closed that chapter in his career, as he started out with an opening set win against Federer, letting the world's no. 1 know that a win was not to come easy.

Federer, a -8000 favorite to win his opening round match according to SportsBooks, came back and took the second set easily 6-2. The turning point for both players in the match was the grueling third set. Andreev broke Federer early in the set to gain the advantage. Later in the set, tied at 3-3, Federer scrambled to the front-court, and hit a very poor drop shot that Andreev got to easily, but his strong forehand shot sailed long that allowed Federer to go up 4-3. Federer than held serve to take a 5-3 advantage.

Andreev fought back however, breaking Federer once more to take a 6-5 lead later in the set. But, three unforced errors in a row by Andreev on serve, allowed Federer to claim the point, and eventually the set 7-6.

"I started 30-love, and maybe there was a little bit concentration went away," Andreev said in an interview immediately following the match. "So I thought that it's already in my pocket, and that was a real mistake. Not technique, but just another lose of concentration."

Federer admitted afterward that the third set was a pivotal turning point, and that he felt fortunate to win that one.

"I could have been up 30-0," Federer to the AP in the post-match interview. "Then the next thing you know he's swinging freely again, so it was a tough third set. I think I definitely got lucky to get out of that one. He was playing well on the set points, served well, got the shots he wanted. It was a fortunate third set for me today."

Andreev seemed to have exhibited all his energy in that third set, as Federer cruised to a 6-0 victory in the fourth set, to win the match.

Federer faces Victor Hanescu in his second-round match. He is currently a -5000 favorite to win according to the Tennis Betting Odds listed at Bodog. Hanescu is a heavy underdog, currently at +1200.