Wed, Jan 16, 2008 - Page 20 News List

Federer dispels doubts with quick win

AUSTRALIAN OPEN The Swiss superstar, whose preparations had been disrupted by a stomach virus, and Venus Williams stormed into the second round yesterday

AP , MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

After the match, the television commentator implored Djokovic to do one of his impressions of another player -- specifically Maria Sharapova -- that have generated huge attention on YouTube.

At first, he resisted -- "I don't want to offend anybody," he said -- before doing a good impersonation, right down to the Russian player's tendency to brush strands of her long blonde hair back over her ears.

No. 10 David Nalbandian, who beat Federer and Rafael Nadal at consecutive tournaments to win the Madrid and Paris titles, recovered from back spasms that forced him out of the Kooyong exhibition to oust Australian Robert Smeets.

Former US Open and Wimbledon winner Lleyton Hewitt started his 12th bid to become the first homegrown winner of the national championship since 1976 by downing Steve Darcis of Belgium.

No. 12 James Blake beat Nicolas Massu, and Marcos Baghdatis, who lost the 2006 final, defeated 2002 champion Thomas Johansson.

Marat Safin, who lost the 2002 final but made amends with the title here in 2005, next faces Baghdatis after overcoming Latvia's Ernests Gulbis.

Fifth-ranked David Ferrer ousted Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France, but No. 17 Ivan Ljubicic lost to Robin Haase of the Netherlands.

France's 35-year-old Fabrice Santoro broke Andre Agassi's record for most Grand Slam appearances in the Open era when he beat US player John Isner in straight sets to kick off his 62nd major, including 38 in a row.

On the women's side, No. 6 Anna Chakvetadze only played six points before Germany's Andrea Petkovic retired with a leg injury. Also advancing were second-ranked Svetlana Kuznetsova, No. 4 Ana Ivanovic, No. 9 Daniela Hantuchova and No. 14 Nadia Petrova. Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli, seeded 10th, lost to Sofia Arvidsson.

Also see: It's not so easy being Sania Mirza

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