Dimitrov is Fed’s 300th victim

Roger Federer (3), Switzerland, def. Grigor Dimitrov (27), Bulgaria, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.

The win gives Federer 300 for his career at the four majors, becoming the first man to reach that milestone, and moving him within six of Martina Navratilova’s all-time record. But, if you’re Roger Federer who just recorded his 300th win in the Grand Slam singles match, the expectations doesn’t seem to end. “Like when I reached 1,000 [tour-level wins] previous year, it was a big deal for me”.

“It is not something I ever aimed for or looked for, but when it happens, it’s very special”.

“You know, I felt like I was hitting the ball well, doing the right things to get in that position, then letup”. Belgium’s David Goffin awaits Federer in round four, after he beat Dominic Thiem 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (7/2), 7-5 in a match which included a generous act of sportsmanship from the Austrian.

“It was a hard position for me after losing the second set and Grigor was playing well”. “I am quite happy that I was able to step up in the third set. It was complicated, but those matches are even nicer to win, I must say”.

“I think I served my way out of trouble several times”.

The Swiss star reached the last-16 of the Australian Open for the 16th year in a row. “So I’m really going to try to go out there and use all my confidence that I’ve built so far and, of course, keep trying”.

Victoria Azarenka (14), Belarus, def. Naomi Osaka, Japan, 6-1, 6-1.

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) – Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka walked onto Rod Laver Arena knowing that the No. 2- and No. 3-ranked players were already out of the tournament and that the draw appeared to be opening up in her favor. No. 12 Marin Cilic also lost but Kei Nishikori – whom Cilic beat in the 2014 U.S. Open final – advanced over No. 26-seeded Guillermo Garcia-Lopez and next will play 2008 Australian Open finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Dimitrov took a set off Federer for the first time in the quarterfinals at the Brisbane International, and did that again in Melbourne.

Novak Djokovic’s tennis has been pretty other-wordly in the past 18 months, winning three grand slams in 2015 and sitting on top of the rankings with twice as many points as Andy Murray in the No 2 spot. “I’ve been fooled too many times when I was a teenager. I’m just glad to get through”.

Maria Sharapova defeated Lauren Davis in three sets to make fourth round.

Konta, who was born in Sydney and became a British citizen in 2012, beat Denisa Allertova 6-2, 6-2 and will next play No. 21-seeded Ekaterina Makarova, a semifinalist here past year, who had a 6-3, 6-2 win over No. 9 Karolina Pliskova.

Kasatkina raised rambunctious cheers from sympathetic fans in the terraces when she prised a game in each set but Serena finished full of running, closing out the match when her frazzled opponent pushed a forehand wide.