Roger Federer vs Aljaz Bedene LIVE: Latest Australian Open score as Federer takes lead

Federer is a heavy favourite to end this fortnight in Melbourne as champion once again, following on from his 2017 triumph when he beat Rafael Nadal in an epic five-set final.

Last year, the Swiss was not perfect in his first round. He faced Austria’s Jurgen Melzer, who had been forced to qualify for the tournament, but lost the second set in an unexpected wobble.

But that match came after six months out and he was understandably rusty. This time around, Federer looked imperious at the Hopman Cup, his first competition of the year.

It means winning will be a tall order for Bedene, who is the world No 51 and has never played Federer before.

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Roger Federer vs Aljaz Bedene LIVE

(* denotes next to serve)

ROGER FEDERER BEATS AlJAZ BEDENE 6-3, 6-4, 6-3

Remember that extra gear I was talking about? Federer finds it on the Bedene serve and brings up three match points. The Slovenian saves the first one and Federer misses the second but the third is one too many for Bedene. Federer wins in emphatic and routine fashion.

Federer 6-3, 6-4, 5-3 Bedene*

There is a sniff of a break at 15-30, but Federer finds a massive serve and a superb winner. Bedene serving to stay in it now.

*Federer 6-3, 6-4, 4-3 Bedene

Federer was 1/66 to win this match. I reckon they could play this 100 times and Bedene wouldn’t get a win. He’s holding now but it feels as though that’s because Federer is letting him. The Swiss is two games away.

Federer 6-3, 6-4, 4-2 Bedene*

Bedene is so frustrated because he feels like the opportunities have been there. I’m not convinced they have been because Federer has a couple of other gears he hasn’t needed.

*Federer 6-3, 6-4, 3-2 Bedene

Bedene won’t go away, but Federer will not bothered by that. All he has to do is hold three more times and that will be that.

Federer 6-3, 6-4, 3-1 Bedene*

Consolidated emphatically, with only a fine passing shot when Federer serve-and-volleys getting Bedene on the board. The end feels very much nigh.

*Federer 6-3, 6-4, 2-1 Bedene

Serious hitting from Federer at 15-30 but Bedene hangs in there, only to net a short ball when the opportunity presents itself. Not much conviciton in that. Plenty of conviction in the next rally though and Federer is the one who cracks first, netting a backhand.

However, just as Bedene thinks he has saved the second break point, Federer whips a forehand behind him that clips the line and seals the break.

Federer 6-3, 6-4, 1-1 Bedene*

He is sort of in this match, in that he is staying in the rallies, but he’s not going to win much. Federer gets pushed to deuce on his serve after some fine baseline exchanges but finds a hold at the first opportunity.

*Federer 6-3, 6-4, 0-1 Bedene

Bedene manages to hold to take the lead in a set for the first time… which is something…

ROGER FEDERER WINS THE SECOND SET 6-4

Federer converts his fourth set point, the first on his serve, going to his ever-reliable serve out wide to the backhand which is too hot for Bedene to handle. Routine stuff.

*Federer 6-3, 5-4 Bedene

Not a good time for a double, serving at 3-5 and 15-15. Federer then hits a stellar crosscourt forehand as Bedene hesitates at the baseline to bring up to set points.

But a rare Swiss mis-hit sees the first go and Bedene comes forward to finish off the second after serving out wide.

He has to save another with a first serve after Federer attacks a second at deuce but when the No 2 seed’s drop shot isn’t quite cute enough, Bedene gets a game point which he converts. Federer to serve for a two-set lead.

Federer 6-3, 5-3 Bedene*

Another ruthless service hold from the world No 2. Bedene will again serve to stay in the set.

*Federer 6-3, 4-3 Bedene

It’s nice to see Federer at least being pushed a little here. Bedene is striking well, which might not win him the match but it will prolong it. Holds to 15 but remains a break down.

Federer 6-3, 4-2 Bedene*

A DOUBLE-FAULT! He IS human. However, it was already 40-0 – but Bedene senses an opportunity and when Federer doesn’t quite put away a short ball he punches a pass down the line.

But Federer holds one point later.

*Federer 6-3, 3-2 Bedene

Bedene is moving pretty well but Federer is doing so even better, movng forward whenever he can. Credit to the world No 51, who is driven to deuce from 40-15 but withstands the pressure and hangs on.

Federer 6-3, 3-1 Bedene*

Bedene hasn’t done much wrong in this match – beating Federer requires more than that though – and he forces his first two break points by hanging tough. However, Bedene nets the return for the first and in the second, a point the Slovenian plays well, Federer skips round the backhand and batters the ball down the line. Opportunity snuffed.

*Federer 6-3, 2-1 Bedene

We can turn off Bagelwatch for a while (not that I’d ever activated it but some might have done watching that first break). Bedene is on the board in set No 2.

Federer 6-3, 2-0 Bedene*

Federer goes to serve-and-volley for the first two points of the game, executing perfectly and holds to 15.

*Federer 6-3, 1-0 Bedene

Not a good start for Bedene, who finds himself two break points down and Federer converts the first seemingly at will. He steps well inside the baseline against the second serve, driving a backhand return deep into the court and smashing away the resulting ball. Federer breaks first in the second.

ROGER FEDERER WINS THE FIRST SET 6-3

Very typically smooth from the defending champion. He seals set point, eventually after dumping two into the net, with an aggressive point that is a microcosm for the set. The serve is good and he moves in to finish it off.

*Federer 5-3 Bedene

Nerves? What nerves? Bedene holds to love, forcing Federer to serve it out. Nice one, Aljaz.

Federer 5-2 Bedene*

After 13 straight points on his serve, Federer has finally lost one. Not much consolation for Bedene, who is serving to stay in the set after just 21 minutes.

*Federer 4-2 Bedene

The Slovenian stops the rot after three straight games against him with a hold to 15 that should make feel a whole lot better.

Federer 4-1 Bedene*

A third love hold for Federer. Perhaps the only solace for Bedene is that the Swiss did miss three of his first serves in that game…

*Federer 3-1 Bedene

Bedene quickly finds himself 15-40, facing break points agianst Federer for the first time in his career. He battles nobly to save them and another at advantage but the fourth is a bridge too far and Federer breaks for the first time at the 2018 Australian Open.

Federer 2-1 Bedene*

Federer sits down for the first time in the match without losing a point on serve. He still hasn’t missed a first serve either. This is just scary.

*Federer 1-1 Bedene

Against Nadal yesterday, it took Victor Estrella Burgos more than 20 minutes to get on the board. Bedene has managed it in just four. That will settle a few nerves.

Federer 1-0 Bedene*

Federer’s agression has become a hallmark of his late-career play, as has his serving. First game, he lands four first serves and holds to love. Woof.

8.10am: Players are on court, toss is done, Federer to serve first. They’ll have a little hit and then we will be underway in Melbourne. Federer is, almost, back.

7.45am: Nadal? Wins in three. Djokovic? Wins in three. Federer? Surely… 

It would be easy to say their is the pressure of the weight of expectation on the back of Federer, but I don’t think the man ever feels it.

For Bedene, now flying the Slovenian again after failing to win his appeal to play for Great Britain in the Davis Cup, this is a massive uphill battle – bookmakers Betfair have Federer as a 1/50 favourite.

They’ll be on court in 15 minutes’ time.