Federer eases past Fucsovics into quarter-finals

Roger Federer reached the Australian Open quarter-final for the 14th time Monday but the defending champion did not have everything his own way against 80th-ranked Hungarian Marton Fucsovics. The 36-year-old Swiss was not at his dazzling best on a sun-bathed Rod Laver Arena but claimed a 6-4 7-6 (3) 6-2 to set up a quarter-final against Czech Tomas Berdych.

Courier: "You have a night off tonight. What's the gameplan tonight? Dinner and dancing with Mirka?" Federer: "That's what you did when you played, right? Went out dancing?" #AusOpen

— Nick McCarvel (@NickMcCarvel) January 22, 2018

Fucsovics had never won a main draw grand slam match before arriving in Melbourne but after winning three rounds the 25-year-old produced a skilful and confident performance to keep second seed Federer on his toes for two sets. There were no real alarms for the Swiss though and he raced away to victory in the third set. Federer is the oldest man to reach the quarter-final of the Australian Open since Ken Rosewall in 1977.