MELBOURNE, Jan 16 (AFP): Roger Federer ground out a tough three-set win to make the Australian Open third round for an incredible 20th straight year Wednesday and stay on track for a seventh title, with defending champion Caroline Wozniacki also safely through.
But it was curtains for South African Kevin Anderson, who slumped out to young American Frances Tiafoe and became the highest seed, at five, to be sent packing so far.
On an overcast day at Melbourne Park, second seed Angelique Kerber, the 2016 winner, and former US Open champion Sloane Stephens joined the big guns in progressing, but the women's side also saw a top 10 player crash.
Anderson, beaten by Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final last year, was sent home by Tiafoe 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5.
The fifth seed struggled with an elbow injury early in the clash and couldn't cope with the 20-year-old power and finesse.
World number 39 Tiafoe, who equalled his best ever Grand Slam result, next plays veteran Italian Andreas Seppi and said he was ecstatic.
Sixth seed Marin Cilic, who lost in the final to Federer last year, had no such dramas, grinding past American Mackenzie McDonald in four sets.
Another young gun, Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas, also stayed alive..
Dane Wozniacki, who is battling rheumatoid arthritis, steamrolled Sweden's Johanna Larsson 6-1, 6-3 as she bids to become the first woman to defend the title since Victoria Azarenka in 2013.
Meanwhile, three-time Grand Slam champion Kerber dominated Brazilian qualifier Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-2, 6-3 to stay on a collision course with Stephens in the quarter-finals.
Frances Tiafoe of the US reacting after a point against South Africa's Kevin Anderson during their men's singles match on day three of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on Wednesday — AFP
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