(160115) -- MELBOURNE, Jan. 15, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Roger Federer of Switzerland plays a training session ahead of Australian Open 2016 at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 15, 2016. Australian Open 2016 will take place at Melbourne Park from 18 to 31 January. (Xinhua/Bai Xue)
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Melbourne, Jan 22 (IANS) Seventeen-time major winner Roger Federer became the first man to claim a 300th Grand Slam match win, beating 27th seed Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the third round at the Australian Open here on a rainy Friday.
The No.3 seed claimed the feat at the Rod Laver Arena. It was Dimitrov's seventh straight loss to a Top-10 player.
Only the legendary Martina Navratilova (306) now stands ahead of him.
"It's very exciting, I must tell you," said Federer of the milestone.
"Like when I reached 1,000 (tour-level wins) last year, it was a big deal for me. Not something I ever aimed for or looked for, but when it happens, it's very special. You look deeper into it, I guess, where it's all happened and how. So it's very nice. I'm very happy."
The Swiss master took the first set in 48 minutes. But Dimitrov levelled the match at a set apiece with his aggressive play, paying dividends in the second set.
Federer asserted himself in the third set, breaking in the second and sixth games, to win 6-1.
He then went on to clinch the contest in two hours and 40 minutes, finishing with 47 winners, including 13 aces.
Federer advances to play No.15 seed David Goffin of Belgium, a 6-1, 3-6, 7-6(2), 7-5 winner over No.19 seed Dominic Thiem of Austria.
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