Federer battles into third round

Roger Federer feels there is plenty of room to improve after his straights win over Noah Rubin at the Australian Open.

Federer defeated his American opponent 7-5 6-3 7-6 in just over two hours to book his place in the third round in Melbourne, but the 17-time grand slam champion was far from happy with his performance in just his second competitive match since Wimbledon.

Rubin refused to be unsettled and saved numerous break points in the opening set but just when it looked as though they were heading for a tie-break, Federer finally found a way through to take it 7-5.

It was a similar story in the second set with Rubin broken in the sixth game and he was unable to find a way back as Federer moved within a set of his place in the next round.

It was the American's turn to break at the start of the third set and he maintained his advantage until Federer forced a break when 3-5 down. A tie-break was inevitable but Federer proved too strong for his opponent, taking it 7-3 to seal victory.

"I was just not doing what I was trying to do. I was hoping to play better at times," Federer said.

"I think you can always do better. It's one of those sports like golf, you can always leave frustrated. Like tennis, you can feel: 'I could have always played a little bit better'.

"At the end of the day you have to be happy with what you did, as well. I have to be happy with the little things.

"Sometimes it's not going to be pretty. Sometimes it's just going to be a fight. Today that's what I thought it was for me.

"I guess I was hoping to play better offensive tennis and I struggled with that a little bit at times."

Federer will play 2010 Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych in the third round.

Compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka completed his 6-3 6-4 6-4 win over Steve Johnson in under two hours.

Wawrinka had been taken the distance by Martin Klizan in the opening round, but he looked a lot stronger against Johnson, breaking three times on his way to a straight sets win.

While Johnson failed to convert any of his five break opportunities, Wawrinka broke in the sixth game of the first set, the fifth game of the second and the third game of the third to put the match beyond his American opponent.

“I’m not relieved, but happy with the match of today, happy with my level, my focus,” Wawrinka said. “(It) was a little bit windy, but my level is there. I'm happy to get through in three sets.

“I’m really happy with my serve in general. I’m mixing it up and being aggressive.”

Next up for the Swiss is a third round meeting against Viktor Troicki.

World number one Andy Murray was in superb form against Andrey Rublev, overcoming his 19-year-old opponent 6-3 6-0 6-2.

There was some concern for Murray at the start of the third set when he appeared to twist his ankle. He managed to play on but speaking afterwards he admitted his foot was sore.

"It's just a little bit sore, it's not too serious but I definitely rolled it a bit. I'll make sure I get some ice on it," he said. "I was moving OK at the end which is positive.

"Sometimes if you roll your ankle and it feels bad, you can't put weight on it but I could put weight on it so I'm sure it'll be fine."

He was joined in the third round by fellow Briton Dan Evans who sprang a surprise by knocking out seventh seed Marin Cilic.

Evans had never beaten a top ten player before Wednesday's game but he thoroughly deserved his 3-6 7-5 6-3 6-3 victory.

Cilic capitalised on his opponent's double-fault to break for a 3-0 lead at the start of the first set and Evans was unable to find a way back as the former US Open champion moved ahead in the match.

Despite having three break pointa in the first game of the second set, Cilic was unable to convert any of them. Even when he did break Evans was able to respond and the Croatian was made to pay for another missed opportunity at 5-5.

It was Evans who broke for the set and he broke again at 2-1 in the third and it was to prove crucial as he held on to move a set ahead.

The Briton was made to work hard at the start of the fourth set as he saved eight break points but he was able to build on it by breaking Cilic to move 3-2 ahead. A double fault from Cilic at 5-3 brought up three match points from Evans and he completed a memorable victory at the third time of asking.

Elsewhere, fifth seed Kei Nishikor defeated France's Jeremy Chardy 6-3 6-4 6-3 to set up a meeting with Slovak qualifier Lukas Lacko, while France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga dropped just seven games on his way to a 6-2 6-2 6-3 win over Serbia's Dusan Lajovic.

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