Federer/Djokovic secure spots in Australian Open
Published:Monday | January 24, 2011 | 8:48 AM
Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic produced contrasting display yesterday as both secured their spots in the Australian Open quarter-finals in Melbourne.
Federer, world number two and defending champion, was given a scare by Tommy Robredo before stumbling through 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 after 40 unforced errors.
Third seed Djokovic had an easier day with a crushing 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 triumph over Spaniard Nicolas Almagro.
Djokovic will play Tomas Berdych who beat Fernando Verdasco 6-4, 6-2, 6-3.
Federer will next face Swiss compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka after he disposed of American Andy Roddick in straight sets.
In the women’s draw, former champion Maria Sharapova has exited the Australian Open after suffering a straight-sets defeat by number 30 seed Andrea Petkovic.
The German was rarely troubled in beating the 2008 Australian Open champion 6-2, 6-3 and will now play Li Na in the quarter-finals.
Top seed Caroline Wozniacki overcame a sluggish start to defeat Anastasija Sevastova 6-3, 6-4.
Wozniacki will now play Francesca Schiavone who beat Svetlana Kuznetsova.
Sharapova won the title. She injured her knee in the first round against Anna Chakvetadze and was out injured for eight months.