NOTEBOOK: Federer building up for Del Potro clash

Jan 23, 2012, 1:23 GMT

Melbourne - Roger Federer was feeling good about his game after seeing off Bernard Tomic, but is now keeping an eye out for upcoming opponent Juan Del Potro after reaching the quarter-finals at the Australian Open.

Federer secured a routine 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 over Australian teenager Tomic, finally getting a workout at this edition at Melbourne Park where he is aiming for a fifth title.

'This was my first real match from the baseline where I had to work extremely hard where it wasn't just reacting,' said the 16-time Grand Slam champion.

'I'm happy with how I'm feeling, so it's important to rest up well and then attack again in the court,' he said of his next match against Juan Del Potro. 'It's going to be tough against him.

'I don't look beyond that because he's coming up strong,' he said of the player who beat him for the 2009 US Open trophy. 'He's had a good year and he played all the top guys again in the last year and pushed us all.

'I figure six months after I played (and beat) him in Cincinnati he's going to be a better player. He's got massive potential, and he'll be part of the top 10 for probably a long time.'

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NOTEBOOK: McEnroe let his opinions fly in Melbourne

Melbourne (dpa) - Former great John McEnroe is not holding back on his infamous opinions at the Australian Open as he sits in the commentary booth for television, with Mac the mouth ready with a comment on about any tennis issue on offer.

Take the collapse of the American men at this edition, with the likes of number eight Mardy Fish, big-hitting John Isner and longtime stalwart Andy Roddick all done and dusted during the first week of the major.

Seven-time Grand Slam winner Mac has an answer: 'We've been spoilt with the success we've had in the past,' he said of the American game. 'You could certainly wonder whether our guys are as hungry as some of the others.'

This Open marks the first time since 1973 that the US was without a man in the fourth round in Melbourne.

McEnroe also went into analysis mode during an intervention in the ill-tempered win by Tomas Bedych over Nicolas Almagro, with umpire Pascal Maria drawing fire from the booth for warning Berdych about 'coaching' from the stands.

'Ridiculous, the players' behaviour has been exemplary,' Mac said. 'Keep quiet and keep the score.'