Tennis: 'Fed Express' through

World number one and defending champion Roger Federer never had things entirely his own way against the plucky Takao Suzuki on Wednesday, but still managed to progress in straight sets.

The 'Fed Express' looked a little stunned early on as his unheralded Japanese opponent threw the kitchen sink at him. Suzuki even had the temerity to go a break up at 3-2 in the first set, but Federer quickly restored order to win the next four games and take the opener. The Swiss maestro began to find his range in the next, but Suzuki, who had previously never been beyond the first round at Melbourne Park, made him work for every point.

It was a strangely letharic display from Federer on the Rod Laver Arena, but the fact he was still able to progress without so much as dropping a set speaks volumes about his on-court superiority right now. He survived a few breakpoint chances in the third before finally wrapping up a 6-3 6-4 6-4 win.

Sportinglife