AO - Day 1 - Federer v Johnson

Third match on RLA on Day One of the 2020 Australian Open, featured third seed Roger Federer and Steve Johnson. Federer served first and quickly was into stride, a love game on the board, including an ace. 

A winning cross court forehand gave Federer his seventh straight point, and three break chances. One was saved, but another forehand was too much for Johnson. 2-0 Switzerland.

A backhand from Johnson down the line brought him a break back chance, but Federer won the next three points.

Five more  games went with serve, only one taken to deuce, Federer delivering two more love games in that period. Serving for the set at 5-3, the third seed gave us a beautiful backhand winner down the line, then a backhand volley into open court. An ace brought him two set points. Another one clinched the set 6-3.

Johnson began set two with four errors and was broken to love. 

Another pair of stinging backhands highlighted Federer’s service hold, an ace confirming his dominance. The shots kept coming and another break too, Johnson helpless to handle the pressure. A forehand winner sealed a 3-0 advantage.

Two aces assisted Federer to 4-0, before his generosity kicked in and Johnson was able to squeeze out a game. Unperturbed, Federer raced to within a game of the set, net play exemplary.

Johnson required his opponent to serve for the set, after a confident love game. A return winner from Johnson merely delayed the inevitable. A forehand winner on set point and Federer led 6-3 6-2.

Down two break points in the third set opener, Johnson saved one, but a wide forehand gave Federer the break. A Swiss service hold included forehand and backhand winners, plus a lovely volley to finish.

Johnson saved a break point on the way to placing a score in the board, then back to the Federer highlight reel. 3-1.

In the longest game of the match, Johnson had two game points, but these disappeared, and deuce raised its head for the first of three occasions. Two break points came, and a netted Johnson backhand on the second of these gave Federer a 4-1 lead.

Two holds of serve, and that brought Federer to the line at 5-2, serving for the match.

From 15-15, an overhead winner, and an unreturned serve produced two match points. A backhand from Johnson floated long and the victory was complete. 6-3 6-2 6-2.