Federer breezes at Australian Open

MELBOURNE, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- World No. 1 Roger Federer continued his domination of Fabrice Santoro in a second-round victory Thursday at the Australian Open.

Federer, looking for a third consecutive Australia Open title, hasn't lost a set to Santoro in the last eight meetings between the players. Thursday was no different with Federer taking a 6-1, 6-2, 6-0 decision in less than 90 minutes. Federer fired 53 winners at Santoro.

The two-time defending champion next faces Janko Tipsarevic, who made the third round with an upset of 25th-seeded Fernando Verdasco 7-5, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-3).

Third-seeded Novak Djokovic and No. 2 David Ferrer also advanced to the third round Thursday. Djokovic breezed by Simone Bolelli 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 and drew Sam Querrey, who knocked off 32nd-seeded Dmitry Tursunov 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, in the next round.

Ferrer was leading 6-3, 6-4 when Juan Martin Del Potro retired due to injury.

Also Thursday, 13th-seed Tomas Berdych defeated Oscar Hernandez, 6-2, 6-1, 6-3; No. 19-seeded Lleyton Hewitt beat Denis Istomin 7-6 (7-5), 6-3, 5-7, 6-1; 21st seed Juan Monaco got past Amer Delic, 6-3, 7-6 (8-6), 5-7, 6-7 (8-10), 8-6; and 22nd seed Juan Carlos Ferrero topped Alun Jones, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.