Roger Federer of Switzerland reacts after missing a return against Andreas Seppi of Italy in their men's singles third round match at the Australian Open 2015 tennis tournament in Melbourne January 23, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

The 33-year-old Swiss struggled with his first serve early in the match, while the 30-year-old Seppi took advantage of three of his five break points to take a two sets to love lead.

Federer broke in the third game of the third set to begin what many on Rod Laver Arena thought would be a successful fight back.

Seppi, however, forced a tiebreak in the fourth and clinched victory with a desperate lunging forehand past the charging Swiss at the net to set up a fourth round clash with either Australian Nick Kyrigos or Tunisia's Malek Jaziri.