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Federer battles into Australian Open third round
MELBOURNE, Jan 16, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Defending champion Roger Federer
reached the Australian Open third round for a 20th straight year Wednesday
but was made to battle all the way by Britain’s Dan Evans before winning 7-6
(7/5), 7-6 (7/3), 6-3.
The ageless 20-time Grand Slam champion, who is going for a record seventh
Melbourne Park title and third in a row, had breezed past Denis Istomin in
the first round, but was given a much tougher examination by the world number
189.
The 37-year-old Swiss master will play either France’s Gael Monfils, seeded
30, or American Taylor Fritz in the last 32.
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1238 hrs