ROGER Federer played the sort of tennis to suggest he could yet win an 18th grand slam title as he annihilated Tomas Berdych at the Australian Open.
After six months out through injury, Federer, pictured, had looked rusty in his opening two rounds here but the Swiss produced an awesome display to beat world number 10 Berdych 6-2 6-4 6-4.
He will now face Kei Nishikori for a place in the quarter-finals, where the winner could meet Britain’s Andy Murray.
A kind draw meant Federer was paired with qualifiers in both his first two matches in Melbourne but Berdych, a four-time grand slam semi-finalist and Wimbledon runner-up in 2010, represented his first real test.
The 35-year-old passed it with flying colours, hitting 40 winners and conceding not a single break point during an hour and a half of scintillating tennis.
“I did surprise myself,” Federer said on court afterwards. “I’m happy to do as well as I did; even though I struggled in the early rounds today was different.
“I served great, the court was fast, it’s been unbelievable.”
Federer was playing only his third official match after taking off the second half of 2016 to overcome injuries to his knee and back.
Now ranked 17th in the world, his performance on Rod Laver Arena will certainly encourage those eager to see the veteran add one more title to his record 17 major triumphs.
Nishikori, however, who knocked Andy Murray out of the US Open in September, will be a step up again, particularly if Federer is still lacking full fitness.
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