Wimbledon - Men: Federer strolls into third round

Eurosport - Thu, 25 Jun 13:33:00 2009

A relaxed Roger Federer outclassed Spain's Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-2 6-2 6-4 to waltz into the third round at Wimbledon.

Roger Federer of Switzerland returns the ball to Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain during their match at Wimbledon 
REUTERS - 0

The number two seed, bidding for a sixth Wimbledon crown and a record 15th Grand Slam title, barely broke sweat as he sent out an ominous message to the rest of the field.

As a contest it was all over once Federer broke serve in the third game of the match and the remainder of the one hour 29 minute stroll was pure exhibition stuff.

Federer, the favourite to win the title in the absence of injured champion Rafael Nadal, will play Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber , who survived an epic clash with Czech Ivo Minar to progress 6-4 3-6 4-6 6-2 8-6.

Federer's potential fourth round opponent 18th seed Robin Soderling was forced to recover from a set down for the second match running when he edged past Spaniard Marcel Granollers-Pujol 4-6 7-6(7) 6-4 7-5.

But if Soderling is to set up a repeat of the French Open final in the fourth round he will have to get past another Spaniard Nicolas Almagro, who eventually survived lucky loser Karol Beck of Slovakia 6-4 7-6(2) 3-6 3-6 7-5.

Fourth seed Novak Djokovic overcame a stuttering start before completing a resolute 7-5 6-1 6-4 victory over Germany's Simon Greul in the second round.

The Serbian went an early break down to the world number 106 but the former Australian Open champion broke back twice to take a hard-fought opening set in 45 minutes.

Djokovic rattled off three breaks of serve to race through the second set and a crucial break in game nine of the third saw him serve for the match on Court One.

He now faces a third-round clash against American 28th seed Mardy Fish, who forced his way past Serbia's Janko Tipsarevic 6-4 3-6 6-1 6-4.

French ninth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga did not even have to walk through the All England Club gates to book his place in the third round.

Tsonga became the first player through to the last 32 when his opponent, Italy's Simone Bolelli, pulled out with a back injury before a ball could be struck in their second-round match.

Tsonga will now not be in action until Friday, when he faces either towering Croat Ivo Karlovic or Steve Darcis of Belgium.

Spanish seventh seed Fernando Verdasco battled into the third round with a 7-6(3) 6-7(3) 7-7(4) 6-4 win over Belgium's Kristof Vliegen and will next face compatriot Albert Montanes, seeded 32nd, who knocked out Argentina's Guillemo Canas 6-4 6-3 4-6 6-3.

Dangerous German Tommy Haas, 24th seed, then needed just seven games to get past Michael Llodra, leading 4-3 when his French opponent retired hurt after crashing into a ball girl. Haas had some fun instead by knocking up with a beaming ball girl.

Haas will next face Croatian 11th seed Marin Cilic, who defeated American Sam Querrey 4-6 7-6 6-3 6-7 6-4 in a gruelling battle on Centre Court.

Israel's Dudi Sela, who knocked Rainer Schuettler out of the Australian Open in the first round, repeated the trick with a 7-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory over the 18th seed, a semi-finalist at Wimbledon last year.

Sela next faces 15th seed Tommy Robredo, who came back from two sets down to beat Austria's Stefan Koubek 3-6 4-6 6-4 7-6(5) 6-1.

Reuters

Comment 5 - 24 of 44

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  1. michaelflavio
    i will be so glad win you stop watching­ tennis and annouing us here :)

    From ola azmy, on Wed 24 Jun 9:54PM
  2. Roger is on top form! Talk about your chit of Murray or­ Nadal who cares? Pygmees like you! Roger will surely­ win this wimbledon. Murray is soon crashing out. wait­ and see. I hope that sorcerer of ralph r will just­ become mad!

    From Pooks, on Wed 24 Jun 9:53PM
  3. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    ola azmy.
    u r a dirty pig, am very sorry to say that.­ if federer win this wembledon i will never watch tennis­ again in my life. dont be suprise!!!!

    From Michael, on Wed 24 Jun 9:44PM
  4. Roger Federer... Simply The Best!!!

    From esra.fenerbahce, on Wed 24 Jun 9:40PM
  5. michaelflavio
    sorry i have never insult anyone but you­ are such an idiot who desrve it ,learn hw to talk about­ the legends before you manage to grab a mouse .
    FEDERER­ WILL WIN THIS WIMBLEDON ISA

    From ola azmy, on Wed 24 Jun 9:34PM
  6. No he won't, the same way he wasn't going to­ win RG. Mike, why don't you do a favor to the­ society, go hide somewhere because you're the­ disgrace of the humanity. People with such a low­ intelect, shouldn't be left unsupervised.

    From Ilda S, on Wed 24 Jun 9:20PM
  7. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    hey mates!!!!

    crying rabbit will never win this­ wembledon in jesus name. hope u guys know whom am­ talking about? mr roger @#$%!!!!!

    From Michael, on Wed 24 Jun 9:14PM
  8. why here write such an idiots who don`t understand­ nothing about tennis and they have not been banned. i­ don`t understand that. sorry for the bad english. AS­ FOR FEDERER THERE IS NOTHING TO TALK ABOUT. the facts­ done it.

    From simeonovjordan, on Wed 24 Jun 9:12PM
  9. Mike, you're a sad figure. The fact that you­ haven't achieved anything in life doesn't give­ you the right to talk about a legend in such manner.­ People like you should be banned on tennis­ forums.
    Furthermore: Roger very well done!!

    From cas.hofstee, on Wed 24 Jun 8:38PM
  10. How do you distinguish an idiot from a normal person?­ By the things they say or they write. Mike you're a­ poor idiot.

    From Ilda S, on Wed 24 Jun 8:34PM
  11. I've never been so sure about any player to win­ Grand Slam as soon he steps in the tournament but­ Federers performance convinces me that he will win his­ 15GS with absolutely no problem.

    From AvtoT, on Wed 24 Jun 8:30PM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    federer is an uphill gardener

    From mike, on Wed 24 Jun 7:54PM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    A SAY, TURN AT OVAR TAY BBC FEE BYES GABBY LOGAN AS­ LACKANG PURTACULERLAY SHEGABOL TANEET.

    From Donney, on Wed 24 Jun 7:16PM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    A SAY, TURN AT OVAR TAY BBC FEE BYES GABBY LOGAN AS­ LACKANG PURTACULERLAY SHEGABOL TANEET.

    From Donney, on Wed 24 Jun 7:16PM
  15. federer the winner of wimbledon
    2009 winner

    From cristi, on Wed 24 Jun 7:00PM
  16. FEDERER WILL WIN!

    From gordon.merk, on Wed 24 Jun 6:47PM
  17. Go Federer, Go! U will win this wimbledon for sure and­ prove ur critics wrong very soon.

    From Pooks, on Wed 24 Jun 6:17PM
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    am the hell fine mikey! u? that bast.ard who thinks he­ nadal's pants is around. have u noticed him too? a­ turd!

    From Pooks, on Wed 24 Jun 6:16PM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    booooww

    hows you?

    From mike, on Wed 24 Jun 6:12PM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    he is a nob cheese

    From mike, on Wed 24 Jun 6:05PM
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