Federer subdues hard-hitting Struff

Defending champion Roger Federer needed to knuckle down to end the feisty challenge of hard-hitting German Jan-Lennard Struff with a 6-4 6-4 7-6(4) win in the second round of the Australian Open on Thursday.

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Federer coasted through the opening sets under the lights at Rod Laver Arena but was dragged into a scrap in the third as the 55th-ranked Struff broke his serve and took the match into a tiebreak on a steamy night.

6⃣-4⃣
6⃣-4⃣

Roger Federer leads Jan-Lennard Struff by two sets.

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Struff saved a match point with a searing backhand down the line but fell on the second when Federer crunched a huge serve into the corner. Federer will meet French 29th seed Richard Gasquet for a place in the last 16 as he continues his bid for a 20th grand slam title.

Five-time champion Roger Federer ends day four at #AusOpen with a win and now challenges Richard Gasquet.

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