MELBOURNE: Defending champion and second seed Roger Federer cruised into the fourth round of the Australian Open with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 win over Belgian's Xavier Malisse on Friday.
The Swiss great in the process broke Swede Stefan Edberg's record for the most Open Era wins at the Australian Open with 57 since his 2000 tournament debut.
"It's very nice to take the record but Edberg still stays my idol," Federer told the crowd on Rod Laver Arena.
Federer is bidding to become the second man to win five Australian titles behind Roy Emerson's six.
It was Federer's eighth win in nine encounters with the 45th-ranked Malisse and pitched him into a round of 16 encounter with unseeded Spaniard Tommy Robredo on Sunday.
Federer broke Malisse's serve seven times and hit 36 winners with the same number of unforced errors.
"I am happy to get past a tough match with Xav, who I played a long time ago in the juniors, he played great for the first couple of sets today," he said.
Federer won his record 16th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open last year when he downed Britain's Andy Murray in straight sets.
He is chasing his fifth Australian title after also winning in 2004, 2006 and 2007.
Federer has only failed to get past the third round twice in 12 Australian Opens, both in his first two visits to Melbourne.
Read more: Federer storms into Australian Open fourth round - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/events-tournaments/australian-open-2011/top-stories/Federer-storms-into-Australian-Open-fourth-round/articleshow/7332836.cms#ixzz1BeuZFBOR
The Swiss great in the process broke Swede Stefan Edberg's record for the most Open Era wins at the Australian Open with 57 since his 2000 tournament debut.
"It's very nice to take the record but Edberg still stays my idol," Federer told the crowd on Rod Laver Arena.
Federer is bidding to become the second man to win five Australian titles behind Roy Emerson's six.
It was Federer's eighth win in nine encounters with the 45th-ranked Malisse and pitched him into a round of 16 encounter with unseeded Spaniard Tommy Robredo on Sunday.
Federer broke Malisse's serve seven times and hit 36 winners with the same number of unforced errors.
"I am happy to get past a tough match with Xav, who I played a long time ago in the juniors, he played great for the first couple of sets today," he said.
Federer won his record 16th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open last year when he downed Britain's Andy Murray in straight sets.
He is chasing his fifth Australian title after also winning in 2004, 2006 and 2007.
Federer has only failed to get past the third round twice in 12 Australian Opens, both in his first two visits to Melbourne.
Read more: Federer storms into Australian Open fourth round - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/events-tournaments/australian-open-2011/top-stories/Federer-storms-into-Australian-Open-fourth-round/articleshow/7332836.cms#ixzz1BeuZFBOR
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