BRISBANE, Australia -- Roger Federer showed shreds of Stefan Edbergs influence as he got his 2014 season underway, advancing to the Brisbane International quarterfinals with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Jarkko Nieminen on Wednesday. Air Max 97 Australia . Federer worked briefly with Edberg in the off-season and will again use the six-time major winner as a coach in Melbourne as he tries to end his Grand Slam drought at the Australian Open this month. The 32-year-old Swiss star is not suddenly turning to a serve-volley mindset, but he did venture to the net with good effect in his second-round match against Nieminen as he honed certain parts of his game. "Ive been serving OK, my forehand is going well, my movement is OK, Im seeing the ball OK," said Federer, who won the last of his 17 Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon in 2012. "I expect to play a bit better in the next match, even though today was already very good for a first match in so many weeks." After a day of injury withdrawals in the womens draw, No. 2-ranked Victoria Azarenka finished off the night session with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Casey Dellacqua. The reigning two-time Australian Open champion followed Federers match on centre court. Federer, in the decisive game of the first set, rallied from 40-0 down and won the next five points to break for a 3-2 lead. He started with a pinpoint lob that caught the baseline and followed it up with a sharp, angled volley that turned the momentum. He broke serve twice in the first three games of the second set and cruised to a comfortable win. Awaiting top-seeded Federer in the quarterfinals is Australias Marinko Matosevic, who beat American Sam Querrey 5-7, 7-6 (3), 6-4. Second-seeded Kei Nishikori of Japan had a 6-2, 6-2 win over Matthew Ebden to set up a quarterfinal against Marin Cilic of Croatia. Cilic, in his second tournament following a four-month doping ban, had a 7-5, 7-5 win over fifth-seeded Grigor Dimitrov, a Brisbane finalist last year. Cilic, who reached a career-high No. 9 in 2010 but finished last season at No. 37, said playing again "feels like a new beginning for me." "Im thinking about everything around myself in a different perspective," he said. "Im excited to be in the season and to play, to be back on the tour after all that misery last year." Azarenkas match was the only womens second-rounder to go the distance Wednesday. Shell next play Stefanie Voegele of Switzerland, who advanced when Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki forfeited due to a stomach illness. Maria Sharapova got a walkover into the quarterfinals when Australian teenager Ashleigh Barty withdrew and fifth-seeded Angelique Kerber progressed when Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia retired in the second set with a left leg injury. Kerber was leading 6-2, 4-3 against last years runner-up. Caroline Wozniacki, who withdrew ahead of the Brisbane tournament after injuring her shoulder in practice, confirmed her engagement to golf star Rory McIlroy earlier Wednesday, posting photos of the couple and the ring on Twitter. It was no surprise to Azarenka, who said shed predicted the engagement last year at the Brisbane International. "Im really happy for her. If she will remember, I called it last year when I saw her in the locker room," Azarenka said. "I said, Youll be engaged by the end of the year. Technically, I was right. I even remember the spot in the locker room where I said that. Im a psychic!" In the Hopman Cup at Perth, France beat the United States 2-1 to stay unbeaten in its group. Sloane Stephens beat Alize Cornet 7-5, 6-0, but Jo-Wilfried Tsonga downed John Isner 7-6 (1), 6-3 and the French won the doubles tiebreaker 6-1, 5-7 (10-5). At Auckland, New Zealand, former world No. 1s Venus Williams and Ana Ivanovic moved closer to a semifinal meeting when they won second-round matches at the WTAs ASB Classic. Williams beat Yvonne Meusburger of Austria 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 and second-seeded Ivanovic defeated Johanna Larsen of Sweden 6-1, 6-1. After beating top-seeded Roberta Vinci on Tuesday, 16-year-old Croatias Ana Konjuh was beaten 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 by American Lauren Davis, who will play fifth-seeded compatriot Jamie Hampton in the quarterfinals. Discount Vans Australia . During the furious first few hours of free agency Tuesday, the team agreed to terms with strong safety Donte Whitner, a Cleveland native who cant wait to play in his hometown. Air Force 1 Australia .C. -- Eric Staal kept his focus after his apparent breakaway goal was waived off early in the third period. http://www.discountaustraliashoes.com/cheap-vapormax-fake.html .com) - James van Riemsdyk had two goals with one assist to help the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 5-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday night.TAMPA, Fla. -- Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston has no plans to stop being a two-sport man. "Im just 20-years old," Winston said Tuesday after Florida State lost 8-3 in the New York Yankees spring training opener. "This is my life, man. I want to play both as long as I can. I love both of them. Ive got a strong passion for both." Florida States quarterback in the fall, Winston went 0 for 2 in the Seminoles exhibition game against the Yankees. He grounded out to second base while facing Shane Greene in the sixth and struck out looking on a full-count pitch from Bryan Mitchell two innings later. "Obviously, hes a great talent," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "I guess he had a football injury in the championship game which kept him from hitting for a while. But hes just starting to pick up the bat again. I guess he had torn a ligament in his left index finger." Winston has made three scoreless appearances as a closer this season but didnt get a chance to pitch against his favourite baseball team. Seminoles coach Mike Martin said Winstons arm was a little tender after his outing Saturday. "There were really not any plans for him to pitch," Martin said. "Not throwing today gives him Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday off before he pitches again. Cheap Nmd Australia. We felt that would be the best way to approach it." Florida State plays Miami on Friday. Winston played in the field twice previously this year, getting a hit in his lone at-bat. Against Greene, the 6- foot-4, 230-pound sophomore got a big cheer from the announced crowd of 7,708 at Steinbrenner Field after shattering his bat on foul grounder. "The favourite part of the day was just being out here," Winston said. "Being around a bunch of big league guys, and they proved it. They beat us." Winston talked with his favourite player, Derek Jeter, calling the meeting "surreal." Winston said playing for the Yankees "would be a dream come true." "I guess it feels like when I talk to little kids, how they feel sometimes," Winston said. "Theyre speechless, and thats how I was with Jeter." Winston led the Florida State football team to the national championship in a 34-31 victory over Auburn on Jan. 6. "Im focusing on getting our guys to the College World Series," he said. "Its very important to those guys in that clubhouse, and its very important to the coaches." ' ' '