Roger Federer gave another potent advertisement for his lingering genius and suggested he retains the game to win his eighth Wimbledon, as he dispatched Tommy Robredo 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 to move into an all-Swiss quarter-final with Stan Wawrinka.
No one has taken a set off Federer at these championships. No one has broken his serve. The longest he has been on court is 94 minutes. And this ruthless dissection of Robredo, who beat him at the US Open last year, showed he is close to the form that took him to the 2012 Wimbledon title.
He chipped and charged with success. He made difficult volleys look effortless. And his forehand, its swing as easy as the breeze, wreaked such havoc that when it occasionally went astray there were mutters of surprise. “I am very happy,” Federer said. “I was able to start off strong and I kept up momentum until the very end. Tommy was playing better as the match went on so I was very happy to win in straight sets. I’m serving well, moving well, returning all right, all the things are happening for me to do well.”
He is still fourth favourite in the betting, behind Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and his old nemesis Rafael Nadal, whom he is scheduled to meet in the semi-final. But before then he meets his friend and compatriot Wawrinka, who beat Feliciano López 7-6, 7-6, 6-4.
“I feel my game is right there,” Federer said. “It’s about really being focused out there. I’m healthy. Things are exactly where I want them to be but I am where I want to be. Meeting Stan in the quarter-finals will be amazing.”
Federer started by winning his first service game to love and immediately broke Robredo when his backhand looped over the baseline. A service hold meant he was 3-0 up in seven minutes. Soon Federer had broken again and served out to win the first set 6-1 in 22 minutes.
Robredo is not a natural grass-court player: this is his 13th Wimbledon yet he was making his first appearance in the last 16. Last year Andy Murray saw him off in the third round. And while the Spaniard had his moments – when Federer took a drive volley on the run, Robredo smartly whipped a winner past him – they were rare.
The second set started no better for Robredo, who lost the first nine points before a forehand winner landed in to sympathetic applause. By then he was already 2-0 down in games and with Federer untroubled on his serve he was quickly 2-0 down in sets too.
Robredo raised his level in the third set but one break again – at 3-3 – was enough for Federer to wrap up victory.
Next lies Wawrinka – who is looking forward to the challenge. “It’s going to be fun,” he said. To play him on the grass at Wimbledon is going to be something special. It is going to be tough to play him tomorrow because I have played Monday and Tuesday.”
theguardian.com
Alez Roger!. This is definitely your year at Wimbledon :).
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