Australian Open: I was just not doing what I was trying to do, says Federer

Roger Federer, Noah Rubin

Roger Federer. Pic/Getty Images

Melbourne: Roger Federer admitted to feeling disappointed after scrapping his way to a 7-5 6-3 7-6 (7/3) victory over America's Noah Rubin and into the Australian Open third round.

A straight-sets win in just over two hours hardly sounds like cause for dejection but Federer's fitness and usual finesse both appeared lacking here, against an opponent ranked 200th in the world, playing only the fifth grand slam match of his life.

American Noah Rubin

"I was just not doing what I was trying to do. I was hoping to play better at times," Federer said. "I think you can always do better. It's one of those sports like golf that can leave you frustrated. Like tennis, you can feel: 'I could have always played a little bit better'.

"At the end of the day you have to be happy with what you did, as well. I have to be happy with the little things. Sometimes it's not going to be pretty. Sometimes it's just going to be a fight. Today, that's what I thought it was for me. I was hoping to play better offensive tennis and I struggled with that a little bit at times."

All of which will be music to the ears of Berdych, who has lost his last five meetings with the Swiss but showed impressive efficiency in dispatching American Ryan Harrison yesterday. "I've got to lift my game a little bit," Federer said. "I thought he was going to have a tougher time against Ryan, to be honest, because Ryan has been playing well recently again.

"The court here plays fast and he's caused difficulties for me in the past on faster courts - Cincinnati, New York, Wimbledon, the Olympics in Athens - I know what he's got. I don't need to tell you where he's beaten me."