Australian Open Breaking News: Roger Federer Outlasts Gilles Simon

Lauren LynchJan 19, 2011

Roger Federer finally got his first career win against France's Gilles Simon on Wednesday night.

But it sure wasn't easy.

After looking like a walk over in losing the first two sets of their second-round Australian Open match, Simon won the third and fourth late Wednesday night (early Wednesday morning in the US).

The No. 2 seed responded in kind with a 6-3 fifth-set victory to advance to the third round, something he has done every single year of his career at the Australian Open.

Simon previously owned a 2-0 lifetime record against the 17-time Grand Slam winner.

Federer made a highly-uncharacteristic 53 unforced errors, but rallied in the undramatic fifth set. He finally broke Simon in the fourth game after failing to do so since the third set.

Federer won the first two sets 6-2, 6-3, Simon has won the last two 6-4, 6-4.

Follow the match on our Tennis Live Scores page, and look for a story on the winner late this morning on TennisNow.com.