2020 Australian Open Day 4: Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal cruise through second round

Ryan Young
·Staff writer
Both Serena Williams and Roger Federer made it through the second round at the Australian Open with ease in Day 4.
Serena Williams, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal made it through the second round at the Australian Open with ease in Day 4. (AP/Lee Jin-man)

This post will be updated with action from Day 4 of the Australian Open in Melbourne.

Roger Federer flies through second round

Roger Federer had no issue advancing to the third round of the Australian Open on Wednesday.

Federer flew past Serbia’s Filip Krajinovic in straight sets 6-1, 6-4, 6-1. He wrapped up the final set in just 20 minutes, too, and had 42 winners in the match.

“I’m very happy, it’s a great start to the season,” Federer said, via The Guardian. “I’m feeling really relaxed out on court. You train hard and you hope it pays off and not that it was all for nothing this week. I’m happy, I’m still going.”

Federer didn’t waste any time, either, jumping out to a very quick 5-0 lead in just 15 minutes in the opening set. After the match, Federer even admitted that he felt sorry for Krajinovic, who had to play in an almost four hour first round match on Tuesday due to a rain delay.

“At 0-40 and 5-1, it wasn’t 100 percent fair that he played five sets yesterday and me zero,” Federer said, via Yahoo Sports Australia. “The rain helped me, so you’ve got to take them when they fall that way but I do feel a bit sorry to be honest.”

Federer will next take on Australia’s John Millman, who beat Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz in straight sets in the second round 6-4, 7-5, 6-3.

Serena Williams advances

Federer wasn’t the only big name to fly through the second round.

Serena Williams handily beat Tamara Zidansek in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3, to reach the third round and keep her quest for a 24th Grand Slam title alive even after the final set got a bit dicey. It marked her 87th career singles win at the Australian Open, too.

“It was a good match for me,” Williams said, via the Australian Open. She was a real good fighter and she didn’t just let me win.

“Everyone plays me tough like that though, so it’s nothing new. I was up 40-0 on both of her serves, so I was frustrated. I hit many errors and had to battle through my own internal problems.”

Williams is now set to take on China’s Qiang Wang in the third round, who flew past France’s Fiona Ferro 6-1, 6-2 in her second-round match.

Rafael Nadal defeats Federico Delbonis to advance

Rafael Nadal is still on track for his 20th Grand Slam after defeating Argentina’s Federico Delbonis to advance to the third round. Nadal battled for two and a half hours, with Delbonis saving numerous break points and set points before Nadal could secure a 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-1 straight sets win.

It wasn’t an easy match, and Nadal was honest about his performance when it was over.

It was a tough match, I lost a lot of opportunities on the break points but I found a way of winning the second set and was more aggressive in the third set.

The tensest part of the match didn’t involve Delbonis at all. Nadal accidentally struck a young ball girl in the head with a tennis ball, which made for a scary moment or two. Thankfully she was okay, and Nadal apologized and complimented her bravery.

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