Federer eases into fourth round

World number one Roger Federer produced an efficient display on serve to comfortably progress to the fourth round of the Australian Open with a straight sets win over 31st seed Albert Montanes.

The Swiss did not allow Montanes a single break-point opportunity en route to a 6-3 6-4 6-4 victory on Rod Laver Arena.

Montanes’ inability to threaten on the world number one’s serve undermined an otherwise solid display from the Spaniard with Federer admitting afterwards he had struggled to match him from the back of the court.

“He might have had the upper hand (from the baseline) actually,” said Federer who won for the 50th time at the Australian Open.

“He didn’t make many mistakes. I expected him to miss a bit more.

“I needed to make sure I served well because if I had a hiccup on serve it could have been an even closer game.”

Federer’s next assignment will be against either local hope and 22nd seed Lleyton Hewitt or 2006 finalist Marcos Baghdatis.

That pair meet tonight although Federer will back his chances against either having beaten Baghdatis in all nine of their previous meeting while he has also beaten Hewitt the last 14 times they have played each other.

“I feel good, I feel confident,” Federer said as he looked forward to the second week at Melbourne Park.

“Physically I’m fine and fresh and that’s how you want to feel going into the second week.”

The Swiss took the decisive break of the first set in the fourth game.

It was the only break-point chance Federer got a look at but with Montanes winning just five points in the Swiss’ opening eight service games it was all he needed.

The second set was another cagey affair before Federer broke at 4-4 and served out the set before claiming another break at the start of the third to coast into the last 16.