Roger Federer Receives More Luck at Australian Open 2012: Andreas Beck Defaults

Tennis fans looking to watch Roger Federer's second-round match from the 2012 Australian Open may be a little bit disappointed to learn that the match will not take place.

Federer's opponent, Andreas Beck of Germany, has given the third seed at Melbourne Park a walkover in the second round, meaning Federer advances to the third round without challenge.

Federer had a pretty comfy draw at Melbourne Park from the onset this season, but the walkover still helps Federer out a great deal. The Swiss Maestro will now be conserving energy while opponents he will face in the latter stages of the event must still expend their resources in dealing with their second-round opponents.

The walkover is a stark contrast to what Federer faced at last year's Australian Open. In 2011, Gilles Simon of France kept Federer on court for several hours as Simon, though ultimately failing, took Federer to five sets.

Federer's third-round opponent this season is still unknown; however, he can face no one more talented than Ivo Karlovic, a player who must still best Carlos Berlocq in second-round action.

There was an upset in Federer's quarter earlier on Day Three from Melbourne Park as eighth-seeded Mardy Fish is now out of the event. Fish fell to Alejandro Falla in straight sets as the Columbian booked his spot in the third round.

Even when Fish was in the draw, there was not a lot in Federer's path to the semifinals at the 2012 Australian Open. Of note, Bernard Tomic, Alexandr Dolgopolov and Juan Martin Del Potro are still alive in Federer's quarter.

However, neither Tomic nor Dolgopolov have ever won a Grand Slam quarterfinal so far in their careers while Del Potro has not played his best tennis since coming back from his wrist injury over a year ago.