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Federer storms into Australian Open second round

Federer storms into Australian Open second round

By REUTERS

Roger Federer of Switzerland looks to make a forehand return to Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, January 18, 2016. Photo: AP

SYDNEY: A rampaging Roger Federer kicked off his 17th Australian Open campaign with a 6-2 6-1 6-2 demolition of Georgian battler Nikoloz Basilashvili to reach the second round on Monday. The 17-times grand slam champion shone under the lights of Rod Laver Arena to wrap up the match in one hour and 12 minutes, putting on a clinic of clean hitting. Federer struck 31 winners in the one-sided rout to preserve his perfect record of surviving the opening round at the year's first grand slam. The Swiss world number three will next play Ukraine's Alexandr Dolgopolov.