• Australian Open, Day One

Federer sees off Kudryavtsev to join Nadal in round two

Roger Federer eased past Alexander Kudryavtsev in straight sets © Getty Images

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What They Said
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Roger Federer made an early statement of intent as he kicked off his Australian Open campaign with an emphatic victory over Alexander Kudryavtsev.

The world No. 3, who is bidding to win a fifth title in Melbourne, took some time to forge a breakthrough, but after snatching a late break in the opening set, he wasted little time in racing to a 7-5 6-2 6-2 victory in an hour and 38 minutes.

Federer had never played the Russian, playing in the main draw of a grand slam for the first time, and he found his opponent difficult to crack as the world No. 172 showed no nerves playing on Rod Laver Arena.

Federer, who hurt his back in Doha ten days ago, showed no signs of injury as he raced through his opening service game with frightening efficiency. When Kudryavtsev dropped the first point on serve, it looked like he may pose little opposition to the Swiss, but the Russian held on to ease any early nerves.

While Federer raced through his service games, Kudryavtsev came under a barrage of pressure from the third seed, but he held firm, fending off two break points to keep himself in the contest. Serving to stay in the set, Kudryavtsev looked to buckle under the pressure, but he saved set point to level at 5-5.

However, serving to force the opening set to a tiebreak, the Russian finally cracked, and Federer broke to love to snatch the opening set. From then on in, it was relatively plain sailing for Federer. Kudryavtsev received treatment on a groin problem at 2-1 in the second set, and Federer took full advantage of his opponent's impediment to grab a break, before streaking away to move within one set of the second round.

Federer tightened his grip on the match, racing to a 3-0 lead in the third set, and although Kudryavtsev avoided the bagel to take the score to 3-1, it merely delayed the inevitable as Federer followed world No. 2 Rafael Nadal into the second round.

The 16-time grand slam champion will now meet Andreas Beck after the German beat France's Eric Prodon 6-4 6-2 4-6 7-5.

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