Roger Federer has broken another grand slam record while outclassing Australia’s James Duckworth in the first round of the Australian Open.
The 17-time grand slam champion’s 6-4 6-4 6-2 win began his 57th consecutive major tournament, surpassing the Open Era record of 56 he had shared with South African Wayne Ferreira.
It was also the start of a new stage in the 32-year-old sixth seed’s career, with new head coach Stefan Edberg in the stands for the first time, after flying into Melbourne on Monday.
Federer said he hit up with the Swedish former world No.1 pre-match and, while it was too early to tell how much impact the Swede would have on his game, he was enjoying having him on his side.
“It’s obviously great fun playing in front of him,” Federer said.
“It’s in a way a dream come true for me.
“I used to watch his matches and get inspired to play this great game, so it’s very special.”
Federer was also happy to spend just an hour and 46 minutes on Rod Laver Arena as the temperature topped 40 degrees.
Duckworth, the world No.133, needed a wildcard to enter the tournament, but had had some success previously at Melbourne Park, winning his way through the first round in each of the past two years.
That record clearly pales in comparison to Federer, though, who has reached at least the semi-finals for the past 10 years, amassing four titles in that time.
It also pales in comparison to Duckworth’s grandmother, Beryl Penrose, who won the Australian Open singles and doubles in 1955.
French 10th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga also made it through the first round with minimal trouble on Tuesday, ousting Italian Filippo Volandri 7-5 6-3 6-3.
Other high-ranking men’s winners on Tuesday included Canada’s 11th seed Milos Raonic, Bulgarian 22nd seed Grigor Dimitrov and Japan’s 16th seed Kei Nishikori, who needed five sets to down Australia’s Marinko Matosevic.
Dimitrov, the 22-year-old girlfriend of Maria Sharapova, is the youngest man in the world’s top 30 and is coached by Australia’s Roger Rasheed.
One big name, and big player, to fall on Tuesday was American 208cm 13th seed John Isner, who was trailing Slovakian lucky loser Martin Klizan 6-2 7-6 (8-6) when he withdrew with an ankle injury.