Roger Federer has progressed through to the second round of the US Open after overcoming Marinko Matosevic in straight sets.
One break of serve in each of the first two sets was enough for Federer to open up a clear advantage against the Australian, and it appeared as though that would be enough midway through the third.
However, Matosevic broke straight back as he started to trouble the second seed before the 33-year-old outlasted his opponent in the tie-break to record a 6-3 6-4 7-6 win.
Read below to see how the action unfolded on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court.
Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match between Marinko Matosevic and Roger Federer in the first round of the US Open.
It wasn't so long ago that the great Roger Federer was deemed past it and never likely to regain his previous brilliance, but the legendary Swiss player goes into this tournament as one of the favourites to win his sixth US Open crown. Funny how times change, isn't it?
The 33-year-old has effectively been rolling back the years throughout 2014 to move as high as third in the world rankings but there is a growing feeling that the multiple major winner isn't finished just yet. He has his eyes on more Grand Slam titles and regaining his place at the top of the game, and you have to say that on current form, it's going to take some impressive tennis to stop him.
The two players are currently undergoing their pre-match interview before they walk onto the Arthur Ashe Stadium. I suspect that Federer might get a good reception when he strolls onto a court that he made his own between 2004 and 2008.
Well it wasn't as loud as you might imagine but the court is still filling up. So then, the two players are about to undergo their warm-up routine. While they do that, how about I tell you a little about Marinko Matosevic?
The Australian is ranked number 76 in the world after an improved year that has seen him reach the last 64 of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time. That probably sounds nothing that significant, but it took him 13 attempts to win at a Grand Slam! This year, he has reached the last 64 at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Can he make it three second rounds in a row? We will find that out over the next few hours.
It takes just two points for Federer to find his groove as he powers a forehand down the line, but Matosevic replies in kind with a backhand winner. The Swiss holds serve easily enough though with a couple of well-directed first serves.
Federer quickly draws an error off the Matosevic forehand but he replies with some clever play at the net to take a 40-15 lead. The number two seed isn't prepared to give his opponent an easy hold though and he gets back to deuce, but the Australian manages to hold off his opponent to level things up.
Federer looks efficient as ever off his first serve and he quickly reels off three points to get to 40-0. An unforced error keeps Matosevic in the game but he concedes the game with a slice that goes long.
You have to say that Matosevic is holding his own in such illustrious company on and off court but Federer is warming to this and some superb work at the net gets him to 15-30. However, the Australian benefits from a miscued forehand to get back to 30-30 before seeing out the game.
Federer establishes a 30-15 lead but Matosevic takes his chance off a second serve to bludgeon a backhand return down the line. It's not enough to rattle Federer, though, and the Swiss holds to ensure that the early stages of this match remain on serve.
Matosevic takes the opening point and he should arguably move to 40-0 ahead. However, a sublime cross-court forehand from Federer and miscued smash from Matosevic see the second seed bring up 15-30, but a fired-up Matosevic takes three points in a row to hold serve. Very impressive stuff from the underdog.
Like in the previous Federer service game, he races to 40-0 before making an error. It's just a minor blip though, and a powerful forehand winner from the baseline sees him hold serve.
BREAK! Matosevic establishes a 30-15 lead before he is on the end of some bad luck off a net cord to allow Federer back into the game. The Swiss then produces a stunning top-spin lob that beats the Australian, but he saves the first break point of the match when Federer nets. Matosevic saves another with an ace down the middle, but two double faults in a row and Federer has the break!
SET! Federer is yet to lose a point behind his first serve and that continues as he moves 30-0 ahead. A second serve gets the job done on the next to bring up three set points, and the first is converted with a forehand into the open court.
Losing that set is going to test the mentality of Matosevic but he puts together three composed points, one of which ended with a backhand winner down the line, to reach 40-15. Federer halves the deficit but Matosevic holds on to get on the board at the start of this second set.
As it stands, you really can't see how Matosevic is going to break Federer. The 33-year-old holds to love for the second game in succession to quickly level things up.
Matosevic isn't having much effect on the Federer serve but despite losing his serve in that opening set, he still looks strong behind his own. A backhand winner and an ace down the middle helps him hold to 30.
Michael Jordan is in the house this evening but Federer fails miserably when attempting a slam-dunk smash at the net. It seems to slightly hinder his focus but he soon recovers to hold serve comfortably. Matosevic isn't making enough balls from the baseline during Federer's service games.
Federer is all over a second serve when he gets an opportunity but Matosevic is digging in deep to ensure that he remains competitive in what could turn out to be a pivotal set. It's not always pretty but he's pulling out the big first serves when he needs to.
For the umpteenth time, Federer coasts into a 40-0 lead before temporarily losing concentration. He follows up an error with an ace, though, and he are at 3-3 at the midway point of this set.
BREAK! Matosevic opens up with a double fault but on the next point, he races to the net to force Federer to go long before a first serve gets him to 30-15. However, Federer reads a Matosevic forehand which allows him to dink a backhand into the open court. It's simply magical. Federer then comes out on top after trading with the Australian to earn a break point, but it's saved with a huge ace. It's not enough for Matosevic though as Federer breaks at the next time of asking with a backhand winner.
Federer is middling everything right now, and a backhand winner and forehand volley earn a 40-0 advantage. Again, he can't see out the love hold but an ace eventually gets the job done.
Is this the first round of the US Open or an exhibition? I think Federer thinks that it's an exhibition because he produces two miraculous shots to get to 0-30. The first was a lob on the stretch that found the corner before he drilled a backhand winner down the line. The Swiss has three break points but out of nowhere, Matosevic saves them all with some dominant play before making it five points in a row to hold serve. Huge credit to the Australian for fighting back there because some of Federer's play was ridiculous.
SET! Federer fires down his fifth ace of the match to reach 30-0 before bringing up three set points after a Matosevic error. The world number 76 goes for broke on the next point but he goes long to fall two sets behind.
It's imperative that Matosevic holds at the start of this third set, and he goes a long way to doing so with two big first serves down the middle. The game is sealed when Federer holds a return long.
After getting to 30-15, Matosevic looks ready to level it up before Federer unleashes a backhand winner down the line. Matosevic then fires long of a return and in next to no time, Federer is level.
Matosevic has resorted to attacking the net but he has limited success as Federer picks him off with a forehand. The Australian gets to 40-15 but a backhand winner and sharp return from Federer get him back to deuce. Important moments for the 29-year-old but he comes through strongly to edge ahead.
Now then, what do we have here? Matosevic begins to pummel Federer from the back of the court and out of nowhere, he has two break points! They soon disappear though as Federer finds the mark with two first serves that Matosevic sends long. An ace takes Federer to game point before another Matosevic mistake sees him concede the game.
Federer's backhand has been a thing of beauty this evening and another passing shot off that wing takes him to 15-30. It isn't enough to discourage Matosevic though, and he powers back to hold serve.
Federer responds with another comfortable hold to even the score at 3-3. Can Matosevic make a better fist of things at this stage of the set than he has previously? We'll soon find out.
BREAK! Disaster for Matosevic as he nets a simple volley before completely miscuing a drop shot. There are a few expletives coming from the Australian now. That only gets worse after he thumps a forehand long, but for the second time in the match, he saves three break points in a row. Matosevic then saves a fourth, but he can't save a fifth after sending a smash wide of the tramlines. That could be that.
BREAK! Matosevic is an angry man but he channels that aggression well to move 0-30 ahead before Federer responds with an ace. However, at 30-30, Federer nets after a sharp return from his opponent before miscuing a backhand to hand Matosevic the break back, much to the delight of the New York crowd!
Again, it's pure power from Matosevic who seemingly feels as though he has nothing to lose now. Those tactics only help him to 30-30 though, and it's nervy times for the 29-year-old. Well, you'd think so anyway, but Matosevic doesn't agree. He converts a backhand into the open court and Federer will serve to try to remain in the third set!
Federer coasts through an emphatic service hold to love. That was better from the 33-year-old who has wilted a little over the past 15 minutes.
Matosevic throws in a double fault when leading at 30-0 but Federer nets on the next to allow his opponent two game points. The first is saved after a stupendous rally ends with Federer dispatching a volley after a superbly executed lob before deuce is brought up with yet another backhand winner. Federer gets to break point but Matosevic responds in positive fashion, putting together three points in a row to guarantee himself at least a tie-break.
It's a much simpler hold for Federer who puts together four successive points. We are going into a tie-break!
The opening two points are shared but Federer concedes the mini-break when netting a backhand from the baseline. Matosevic then establishes a two-point lead with a big first serve but a forehand return forces the error from the Australian. We go to the change of ends at 3-3 after a well-directed second serve from the Swiss.
MATCH! The next two points go with serve but a Federer forehand catches the line and that forces Matosevic to frame his reply. That gives Federer the opening he needs to quickly rattle off the next two points to book his place in the next round.
It was far closer than it looked like being at the back end of that third set but after just over two hours, Roger Federer has overcome a resilient performance from Marinko Matosevic. He may have tailed off a little at the end of the third, but Federer was in sublime form for much of that match and will undoubtedly be a threat in the latter stages of the tournament.
That will be all from Sports Mole for this match but we hope to catch you tomorrow for day three at Flushing Meadows. Goodbye for now.
Written by
Darren Plant
Darren Plant
