Roger Federer delivered a lesson to the next generation at the Australian Open, extending his record to a 35th consecutive grand slam quarter-final after Serena Williams set up a clash with her would-be successor.
The Swiss maestro sent 22-year-old Canadian Milos Raonic packing with a 6-4 7-6 6-2 masterclass under the lights of Rod Laver Arena yesterday, providing a blueprint for Williams ahead of her all-American quarter-final against teenager Sloane Stephens.
The 31-year-old Williams appeared in little need for tips, however, as she demolished Maria Kirilenko 6-2 6-0 earlier in the evening session to notch her 35th appearance in the last eight of a grand slam.
US Open champion Andy Murray, who like Federer has not lost a set at Melbourne Park, clobbered shattered 14th seed Gilles Simon 6-3 6-1 6-3 to go to within three wins of back-to-back grand slam titles.
Needing a measly 57 minutes to despatch the 14th-seeded Russian, Williams will face another woman in a hurry in 19-year-old Stephens.
Poised win
The wise-cracking up-and-comer has been touted as an heir to the 15-times grand slam champion Williams and burnished her credentials with a poised 6-1 3-6 7-5 win over Serbia’s Bojana Jovanovski in the afternoon sun at Hisense Arena.
Williams has been branded a mentor to the impressive Stephens, whom she beat in the lead-up tournament in Brisbane but with a sixth title at Melbourne Park on the line, she quickly backed away from the role. “I don’t know. I mean, I would need a better definition of the word ‘mentor’,” said Williams. “It’s hard to be a real mentor when you’re still in competition.”
Federer smacked down Australian upstart Bernard Tomic in three sets in the previous round, and was in no mood to emulate defending champion Novak Djokovic, who was stuck on centre court for five hours the previous night before wearing down Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka.
Federer drew the big-serving Canadian’s sting in a tight second set and romped to victory with 34 sparkling winners to set up a quarter-final with France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
“I just try to go out there and play my best, regardless if they’re young or not,” said Federer, bidding for a fifth title at Melbourne Park. “But I get a lift, as well, in terms of energy playing against those kind of guys.”
Staggering wreck
The 13th seed Raonic, tipped to trouble the heavyweights in years to come, played with a local anaesthetic to ease the pain of a foot injury, and nearly pulled out of the match.
Murray derived little joy from his win over Simon, with the French man a staggering wreck in the closing stages. Simon had been exhausted by compatriot Gael Monfils in a five-set marathon in his previous match and could do little more than stick out his racket and hope as he slumped to a 10th straight loss to the Scot.
The monotone Murray has made an art form of sounding blasé about rollicking victories, but struck a new depth of melancholy as he lamented the lack of competition at his post-match media conference. “It was kind of tough. A tough situation for both players – more obviously for him . . . It didn’t feel like that competitive,” said Murray, who will face another French man in surprise package Jeremy Chardy.
World number one Victoria Azarenka was back to her ruthless best in a 6-1 6-1 demolition of Russian Elena Vesnina.
