19 Jan 2012

Federer gets walkover into third round

12:25 pm on 19 January 2012

Four-times champion Roger Federer has advanced to the Australian Open third round without hitting a tennis ball after his scheduled second-round opponent forfeited.

Germany's world No.93 Andreas Beck withdrew from the tournament with a back injury, giving third seed Federer a clear path to a last-32 clash with Croatian Ivo Karlovic.