Wimbledon - Men: Federer continues to cruise
Eurosport - Tue, 30 Jun 13:14:00 2009
Roger Federer came through a comfortable fourth-round match against Sweden's Robin Soderling at Wimbledon, winning 6-4 7-6(5) 7-6(5) against the man he beat in the French Open final a few weeks ago.
There was only one break of serve in a match dominated by sublime serving, with each man enjoying countless love games: just thirteen points were won on opponents' first serves in the course of the three sets.
The only player to blink was Soderling. The Swede missed just enough first serves in the ninth game of the opening set to give Federer something to swing at and, with Soderling's groundstrokes consistently either overhit or guided wide, the world number two took advantage.
Federer closed out the first set, but after that Soderling's serve only grew stronger - and in neither second nor third sets did another break of serve ever look likely. Indeed, every time a chance came the other player invariably slammed the door with one of the match's 39 aces.
That left the winner to be decided in the tie-breaks - and it was there that Soderling's weaker ground strokes were decisive. His 25 unforced errors - compared to Federer's eight - put him on the back foot at the critical moments, as he did in faltering late in an otherwise blemish-free tie-break to let Federer grab the second set.
In the third set Soderling enjoyed a pair of break points at 4-4, but two wild backhands and an ace by Federer closed out the danger.
It was a massive disappointment for the Swede, who threw his racquet in the air in disbelief - but he seemed to be making amends in the tie-break after taking the initiative early on and getting to 5-3 and with two serves in hand.
Yet a brilliant winner from the Swiss player followed by a catastrophic double fault by the Swede got things back on terms, and the 14-times Grand Slam champion finished the match of ruthlessly to earn a quarter-final match against Croatia's Ivo Karlovic, who won a bruising encounter with Spanish seventh seed Fernando Verdasco 7-6(5) 6-7(4) 6-3 7-6(9). .
Verdasco has a mighty serve himself but he could not compete with the imposing Karlovic, who makes it through to the last eight at a grand slam for the first time.
Karlovic, the 22nd seed, won the first set 7-5 on a tiebreak before Verdasco levelled up, taking the second breaker 7-4.
It was not exactly subtle stuff and the only variation on the theme came in the third set when Verdasco went 0-40 in the eighth game and lost the last of them after thrashing a forehand long.
Karlovic served out before the fourth set reverted to type, with the Croat taking the inevitable tiebreak 11-9, as Verdasco spooned an easy forehand long.
Fourth seed Novak Djokovic continued his unassuming path through the men's draw with a 6-2 6-4 6-1 victory over Israel's Dudi Sela.
Former Australian Open champion Djokovic, the youngest man remaining in the draw, simply had too much ammunition for the 24-year-old world number 46, and progressed through to the last eight for the second time with ease.
Sela, the first Israeli man to go this far at a grand slam for 17 years, could not reproduce the form that took him past seeds Rainer Schuettler and Tommy Robredo in previous rounds, ditching a forehand into the net on match point.
Djokovic will play Germany's Tommy Haas, the oldest men's survivor, for a place in the semi-finals after the 24th seed reached the last eight for the first time witha 7-6(8) 6-4 6-4 win over Russian Igor Andreev.
Haas, the oldest player remaining in the men's draw, showed superb timing off both wings to produce his best showing at the All England Club since his debut in 1997.
The former world number two took a tight opener 10-8 on the tiebreak and after that solved the problem of the 29th seed's booming forehand to wrap up the second just 41 minutes later. A single break was enough in the third and the end came when Andreev netted a forehand.
Former Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt fought back from two sets down to defeat Czech Radek Stepanek 4-6 2-6 6-1 6-2 6-2.
It was an epic victory for the feisty Australian, firing on all cylinders once more after a hip operation that saw him tumble down the rankings.
In a "battle of the crocks," Hewitt had to call the trainer to work on his left leg after the second set while Stepanek, the 23rd seed, summoned help after the fourth set to strap up his troublesome left knee.
Hewitt, the 2002 Wimbledon champion, showed all his old spirit, cheered on by a raucous bunch of Australian fans chanting "If you want to see five sets, clap your hands." The crowd obliged and so did Hewitt.
Andy Roddick booked a tantalising quarter-final date against former champion Hewitt after outgunning Czech Tomas Berdych 7-6(5) 6-4 6-3.
The American sixth seed fired down 24 aces as he outclassed the 20th seed with a combination of guile and power.
After giving Berdych the runaround, Roddick sealed his place in the last eight here for the fifth time when his opponent could only paddle a backhand into the net.
Berdych had been one of only two men who had not dropped a set coming into the fourth round but he failed to trouble Roddick with his baseline tactics and went out after an hour and 48 minutes.
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Comment 91 - 110 of 110
Carlos yes, Hass is really impressive on grass.. but Novak was dealing much better with this surface last two matches.. his play against Sela was devastating (and Sela can also play, he beats Robredo 3:1), aggressive base line play like from his best days ! He has motivation even more after hale final - So I’m optimist before this match, but big heat can make problems to Novak I’m afraid... will see..
Not a bad guy to be a dead ringer of Carlos. My wife thinks he's the joint number 1 hunk of mens tennis, along with Fernando Gonzalez. I'd agree though that Murray's the favourite tomorrow. Haas looks to be in great form recently and he's definitely in with a good chance. Despite Rafa's absence, it's a pretty attractive quarter-final line-up. I wouldn't be to quick to put my house on any of those matches. You gonna catch any of it live?
Rhymes,yours is prob the more sensible choice,just have a sneaky feeling about Haas,he has a great grass game.I always like to see Juan Carlos do well,due in part to the fact that i am a dead ringer for him !I have been stopped many many times in Spain and at wimbledon for an autograph,the funniest one at Barcelona Airport with my US Open tennis bag,what a joke,i had airport security escorting me to a private check in,untill i spoke ,my accent ,although ok,gave it away in the end ! Back to the real world,eh hem ! Juan Carlos will have to really take it to Murray to have any chance,but you never know.
Carlos,
Logic leads me to Roddick, Murray, Djoko and Fed. Much as I like Murray as a player, my heart would probably be with a Lleyton v Juanqui and Djoko v Fed. Tommy Haas is playing great and deserves a lot of credit for his tournament here and at RG. Hewitt's words on the official Wimbledon site sum it up for me; " I'll just work on my game and make sure I'm executing how I want to". I think that's what Ferrero has been doing all this tournament and is more or less what anyone who understands tennis wants to do when they go on court. No player can ask more of themselves than that. After that, there's the other guy and things either work out or they don't. Take care
Anyone got there picks for the quarters ? im going for Murray,Hewitt,Haas and Federer to get to the semis. I have a feeling Ferrero will give Murray a real scare,and Haas to come through a five setter in the sticky heat in London.I could be completely wrong,but what the hell,you have to stick your neck out sometimes !
Igor,please stop embarrassing yourself,its making me cringe,sickly hero worship is not cool.I thought you had grow up a little.
You know, with all of these discussions, we end up talking @#$%. The real deal are the top 4 guys and the rank says it all! Yes, Novak is a great player (who i used to admire...), but is not in a great moment, and will loose to Haas (that is the true!). Murray is the best defender in the game! If he improves his attacking tactics he will most probably take over in the next 5 years. Nadal, doesn't need to prove anything. From a claycourter, he became an all round player. Federer, is simply the best ever!!! His records says it all! Thanks we have Nadal, Murray and Novak to push Fed even more! Want it or not, Fed is the best ever!!! And trust me, he will win at least another 3 grand slams. Sampras prediction is that Fed is gonna end up with 17 or 18. I agree with that! Long live the king Roger Federer!!! For you haters, just be glad we had (have) Federer to make this sport so popular!!!
No Roddick is mach for Murray. even he improved pretty much !
it will not be easy with Hass, I agree, but he will beat him..
Dear Silva, I like you like Serbian girls.. ;-)
Novak is younger isn’t he ? I think his real carrier is just beginning, so you can not compare it that way.. please notice: in last two years it is 4:3 for Novak.. before that, Novak lost every match played with Federer ! so I would say he is advancing ..
I didn’t say there is no time for Fed.. he is super fit guy ! and I really don’t hate him, just don’t like he’s arrogance sorry !
thing that I was pointing here is lack of proper opposition until last two years, and on last RG..I think it makes sence if you just want to think about it..
Heat in Australia was also documented I think, sadly for them !
Igor, that is a fair deal, although Fed doesn't have to prove anything to anybody. But, unfortunately, i don't think Fed will play either of them. Novak is going out on the next match against Haas. Murray will loose to Roddick at the semis. There will be Federer x Roddick final. Guess the result!?!?!!!! FEDERER, 15 TIMES GRAND SLAM CHAMPION!!!
Igor K, your dear Novak hasn't won anything yet! So far he is a one slam wonder! You say he is good in clay, when the only thing he won this year was that monkey serbian tournament (nothing against Serbia, i love serbian girls... as i love J.J.). Federer beat Nadal, that beat Djoko... C'mon, be realistic! Who has been in the last 4 Roland Garros finals? Was it Novak? You know the answer. What is this about fake? Novak is the one, the as soon as starts loosing, he gives up, faking something! Fed has been diagnosed with those problems i mentioned.
And again I will congratulate Federer and you guys personally if he manages to beat Novak, and the Murray (those two in a raw because grass and Wimbledon are his favourite ;-)
And I swear I will not say one word against him after that.. are we OK now ? :-)
Hey stine147, "at his age", I mean you make Roger sound old man! He's only 27! Still plenty of years to win another 7-8 slams, at which point Igor K will have entered a depression clinic where he won't be allowed to access the internet.
and no matter numbers, they will continue to beat him in the future :-)
Yanis and Stine I will say again, if it wasn’t clear enough: Nadal OR Novak, OR Murray.. not AND !!
“AND” is impossible due tournament draw..
“OR” is enough that he doesn’t win the tournament.. and it was in most cases in last two years (except US open) isn’t it ? please remember
Do you have the problem with the sentence: ".you know, when two guys fights to death whole clay season, and then comes the third from nowhere and takes prise”
Do you want to tell me this is not true ? Nadal and Djokovic amassed everybody with their fights on clay.. where was Federer until, in the clay season ?? he wouldn’t win Nadal on clay, if he was fit, stop lying yourself !
But please forgive me that I don’t like Federer… I’m not normal because I can not deal with his arrogance ?! OK !
Igor you claim Federer is leaving in past glory let me see, how does someone who is leaving in past glory have this kind of record
2008 ROLAND GAROS GRAND SLAM PLAYED FINALS WITH NADAL TOOK SECOND
2008 WEMBLEDON GRAND SLAM PLAYED FINALS WITH NADAL TOOK SECOND
2008 US OPEN GRAND SLAM PLAYED FINALS WITH MURRAY WON THE TITILE
2009 AUSTRALIAN OPEN GRAND SLAM PLAYED FINALS WITH NADAL TOOK SECOND
2009 ROLAND GAROS GRAND SLAM PLAYED FINALS WITH SOLDERING WON THE TITILE
HE IS PRESENTLY INTO THE QUARTER FINALS OF THE 2009 WEMBLEDON GRAND SLAM Igor I ask you is this the record of someone leaving in the past at his age he is not doing badly what you should be concerned about is which of your hero’s Nadal, Murray and Djoko can achieve what he has achieved when they all get to his age? I don't see any of them doing it you know why they will either be injured or it will be shared among them before they get to his age thereby making it difficult for them to get to even 10-12 Grand Slams just in case you are not aware it is the Grand Slams that count at the end of the day and if you want to count the masters you still cannot compare what he has to your guys will have when they get to his age. I SUGGEST YOU JUST LEAVE THIS PAGE AND GO TO MURRAY AND DJOKO'S PAGE AND MAKE YOUR COMMENT LEAVE FEDERER'S PAGE ALONE
Igor, you cannot be serious:) You cannot be THAT blind by hatred! Old glories?! Federer has won 2 out of the last 3 Grand slams and everybody was playing there, old glories? Are you completely brainless or what?
gione.silva 91, well said! But unfortunately, i don't think Igor understands any of this.
Hello Mr. Igor what part of the world were you in when your Nadal was defeated in Madrid Nadal's home, were you somewhere where there is no light? Cause I guess tere was no light so u could not connect to the net to know what happened in Madrid, and you said two guys fought throughout the clay season well for your information Federer was in all the clay tournament fighting and the result was the clay masters in Madrid as if that is enough he took the best trophy for clay in RG meaning he fought better another point, if Nadal Murray and Djoko were that good in clay why were they beaten? I always ask this question Federer haters where you guys expecting Federer to have made sure Nadal, Murray and Djoko don't loss out of the RG tournament so that he will play the three of them in the finals? That is a dumb question right? But every time you make a statement that Federer did not beat Nadal, Murray and Djoko you are similarly behaving like people who have got know head. It is people like you that will claim that since Nadal was not in this tournament that if Federer wins it he does not deserve to win, sometimes I want to ask you guys that come to a site where articles have just been written about Federer and type rubbish I want to ask HOW OLD ARE YOU GUYS REALLY? I WANT TO KNOW COS EVEN A THREE YEARS OLD KID WILL NOT BE MAKING THE KIND OF STATEMENTS YOU GUYS MAKE. HOW CAN A NORMAL HUMAN BEING MAKE A STATEMENT SUCH AS THE ONE YOU JUST MADE? WELL WHY DON’T YOU GO TO FEDERER’S HOUSE AND RETRIEVE THE ROLAND GAROS TROPHY FROM HIM SO ANNOYING A COMMENT FROM YOU IGOR YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF, DO YOU EVEN READ WHAT YOU TYPE OR YOU THINK YOU ARE IN YOUR CLASS ROOM WHATEVER YOU TYPE HERE MIGHT ONE DAY BE READ BY YOUR FUTURE CHILDREN AND I WONDER WHAT THEY WILL SAY, WHAT A DAD WE HAVE
@ gione.silva I`m really looking forward their semi, really I am :-)
it would be a fantastic match, and yes Federer is a favourite on grass against Novak - any other surface, he is not, for a long time.. faking illness or not .. deal with it !
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