Federer storms into third round at Australian Open

Federer storms into third round at Australian Open

Roger Federer of Switzerland returns the ball during the second round match of men's singles agasint Victor Hanescu of Romania in 2010 Australian Open Tennis Championship at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne Park, Jan.21, 2010. Federer won 3-0.

MELBOURNE, Jan. 21
-- Top-seeded Roger Federer breezed past Romanian Victor Hanescu and moved into the third round at the Australian Open here on Thursday.

The Swiss star, who is chasing his 16th Grand Slam singles title and fourth Australian Open crown, cruised to a 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 victory at Rod Laver Arena.

Hanescu, who has never gotten past the second round in Melbourne, was no match for Federer.

"I knew the danger of Victor," Federer said. "He's a good player. He was playing really on the baseline that's why I got a lot of winners today. I moved well."

Next up for Federer will be No. 31 seed Albert Montanes of Spain. He was a 4-6, 6-7 (3-7), 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 victor over Frenchman Stephane Robert.

Roger Federer of Switzerland greets the spectators after the second round match of men's singles agasint Victor Hanescu of Romania in 2010 Australian Open Tennis Championship at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne Park, Jan.21, 2010. Federer won 3-0.

Also on Thursday, No. 3 seed Novak Djokovic came from one set down to beat unseedeed Swiss Marco Chiudinelli 3-6, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3, while sixth seed and ATP World Tour champion Nikolay Davydenko continued his solid form with a straight sets win over unseeded Ukrainian Ilya Marchenko to move ahead in the draw.

Davydenko, who started the year with a big title win in Doha after beating Rafael Nadal in the final, completed his second round match with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 scoreline.

"Yeah, two matches, three sets. That's good. Second match play better," Davydenko said of his performance so far in the tournament.

Elsewhere, 2006 runner-up Marcos Baghdatis outclassed Spain's No. 17 seed David Ferrer 4-6, 3-6, 7-6, 6-3, 6-1 in a five-set thriller that lasted four hours and nine minutes.

Australian Lleyton Hewitt, the 22nd seed, beat American Donald Young, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4, 6-1. The former world No. 1 and two-time major champion Hewitt next faces Baghdatis.

Ninth seed Fernando Verdasco of Spain crushed Ivan Sergeyev of the Ukraine, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2. Verdasco, a quarterfinalist last year, will next play Austrian Stefan Koubek, who defeated Croatia's Ivan Dodig, 7-6 (4), 6-1, 6-2.

France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the No. 10 seed, surged past American Taylor Dent, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3. Tsonga, who reached the final here in 2008, will next take on 18th seed Tommy Haas from Germany. He was a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 winner over Serbian Janko Tipsarevic.

In the women's matches, Argentine Gisela Dulko stunned former finalist and 20th seed Ana Ivanovic 6-7 (6), 7-5, 6-4, while Chinese star Li Na saved two match points to defeat Agnes Szavay of Hungary 3-6, 7-5, 6-2.

Defending champion Serena Williams stayed on track to winning her 12th major singles title when she brushed aside Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-1. Her sister Venus defeated Austrian Sybille Bammer 6-2, 7-5.

Polish star Agnieszka Radwanska also impressed in her 6-0, 6-2 demolition of Russian Alla Kudryavtseva.

Roger Federer of Switzerland reacts during the second round match of men's singles agasint Victor Hanescu of Romania in 2010 Australian Open Tennis Championship at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne Park, Jan.21, 2010. Federer won 3-0.

Britain's Prince William(L) watches the match between Roger Federer of Switzerland and Victor Hanescu of Romania at 2010 Australian Open Tennis Championship in the Royal Box at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne Park, Jan.21, 2010.
(Xinhua)