Defending champion Roger Federer made it to the third round of the Australian Open with some difficulty. The Swiss won 7: 6 (7: 5), 7: 6 (7: 3), 6: 3 against the Brit Daniel Evans, who is in the world rankings in 189th place and had to qualify. The victory over Evans was Federer's 16th consecutive in Melbourne, having won here in 2017 and 2018.

Evans has been the # 41 player in the world and Davis Cup winner before curbing doping. He was in the first tiebreak meantime 5: 3 front and then helped Federer with two volley errors back into the game. In the second round he fended off the first two set balls from Federer at the score of 3: 5. The 37-year-old prevailed after 2:35 hours.

"He played very well, it was not easy for me to pull off," said Federer, who had clearly won the two duels with Evans earlier: "I was happy to win the first set, which was important." With a seventh triumph, Federer would be the sole record winner in Australia and would win his 100th tournament win and his 21st Grand Slam title.

Anderson surprisingly eliminated

The two-time Grand Slam finalist Kevin Anderson from South Africa, however, surprisingly eliminated in the second round. The world ranking sixth down to 20-year-old Frances Tiafoe (USA) 6: 4, 4: 6, 4: 6, 5: 7. Anderson, who reached the final of the US Open in 2017 and the Wimbledon final in 2018, was treated to his forearm during the match.

Anderson is the second top ten player after John Isner of the USA, who retired early in the first Grand Slam tournament of the year. On the other hand, last year's finalist Marin Cilic from Croatia, who had more trouble than expected at the 7: 5, 6: 7 (9:11), 6: 4, 6: 4 against the American Mackenzie McDonald, is one round ahead.

Former US Open winner Sloane Stephens has reached the third round. The number five in the tennis world rankings won 6: 3, 6: 1 against Timea Babos from Hungary. Despite the clear result at the end of the success was determined only after 1:35 hours. Stephens reached last year the final of the French Open and in 2013 the semi-finals of the Australian Open.