Match: Roger Federer v Noah Rubin
Date: 18 January, Wednesday
Time: 12am SGT/9:30am IST/4am GMT (onwards)
Competition: Australian Open 2017
Venue: Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Park
TV Channel: In Singapore, Fox Sports will provide live TV coverage of the match.
Live Streaming: The match can be watched live online at AO TV Live, Watch ESPN, Tennis Channel Live
Overview
Roger Federer made a successful return to the Rod Laver Arena after a six-month injury layoff by beating his unseeded first round opponent Jurgen Melzer in a four-setter, which he claimed after dropping the second set 7-5, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.
The 17th seed looked rusty in the first set and conceded points due to unforced errors and was trailing Melzer 4-2 before he stepped up and won seven of the next eight games. Federer revealed that he refreshed and played more freely with a calm mind in the third and fourth sets.
On Wednesday, the 17-time Grand Slam champion will be up against 20-year-old Noah Rubin, who is only playing the third major tournament of his career after last year's Australian Open and 2014 US Open. The American youngster worked his way past compatriot Bjorn Fratangelo 6-7 (4), 7-5, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 in his first round clash on Monday.
Notably, Rubin stunned last year's 17th seeed Benoit Paire in Melbourne and will head into his second round match against his childhood idol with some confidence. Federer himself revealed that he knew very little about his opponent's game but said he was ready to take him on in the third match-up of the day at the Rod Laver Arena.
"I know he [Rubin] is a baseliner. He makes a lot of shots. I guess it is not a bad thing for me. I know it is probably more on my racquet rather than playing a big server. Regardless, you know, got to manage any kind of player in this draw to move forward," Federer said, as quoted by the tournament's official website.
TV Schedule
Australia: Seven
India: Sony Six
Japan: NHK, WOWOW, Sportsnavi
Malaysia: Fox Sports
US: ESPN
UK: Eurosport
Philippines: Fox Sports
Thailand: Fox Sports
China: CCTV, Guangdong Sports, BTV Sports
France: Eurosport
Spain: Eurosport
