Roger Federer secures milestone 300th grand slam win

Roger Federer became the first male player to win 300 grand slam singles matches when he moved into the fourth round of the Australian Open with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory over Grigor Dimitrov at the Rod Laver Arena on Friday.

The 34-year-old improved to 5-0 against Dimitrov, a young Bulgarian with a similar style, including two wins in two weeks. Dimitrov took a set off Federer for the first time in the quarter-finals at the Brisbane International, and did that again in Melbourne.

Dimitrov needed treatment at times, but Federer didn’t cut him any slack – he lost in the third round here last year, his worst run at Melbourne Park since 2001.

“You’re aware of it – I’m a veteran so I don’t get distracted,” Federer said. “I’ve been fooled too many times when I was a teenager. I hope he’s OK.”

Earlier Kei Nishikori had some trouble with his wrist, taking a medical timeout and losing the next set before recovering to reach the fourth round with a 7-5, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 win Friday over the No26 seed Guillermo Gárcia-López. He’ll next play the 2008 Australian Open finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who beat fellow Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-4, 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (7-4).

Nishikori reached the 2014 US Open final and the quarter-finals at the Australian and French Opens in 2015 before withdrawing from his second-round match at Wimbledon with an injured left leg.

Returning to the fourth round at Melbourne Park for the fourth straight year was a boost to his confidence and he said his right wrist felt OK.

“In the first set I was sore but after treatment I felt better,” he said. “I tried to stay tough, concentrated again – I played better in last set.”

There was a full house on Margaret Court Arena for the match, including a big section of Japanese supporters waving flags, while matches on uncovered outside courts were delayed because of rain. Play finally began on some outdoor courts after more than a six-hour delay, and seven doubles matches were postponed.

No15 David Goffin beat No19 Dominic Thiem 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), 7-5 – his first win against a top-20 player at a Grand Slam. He faces a tougher proposition next: Federer.