Federer waltzes into quarterfinals
Six-time Swiss champion Roger Federer won an effortless fourth round Wimbledon match against Jurgen Melzer of Austria on Monday at the All England Club.
The defending champion Federer defeated French Open semifinalist Jurgen Melzer with a score of 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 on Centre Court. Melzer is the 16th seeded player at the tournament.
Federer dismissed the left handed Austrian in a mere 1 hour, 24 minutes by hammering out 11 aces, and totalling only 11 unforced errors while collecting six service breaks, compared with just one break in one break-point opportunity for the visibly beleaguered Melzer.
The 28-year-old Federer is top seeded at Wimbledon this year, although he is ranked second in the world behind Rafael Nadal, who has recently come off a victory at the French Open at Roland Garros.
Federer holds sixteen Grand Slam titles, having just won the Australian Open title a few months ago. Federer defeated American Andy Roddick for the third time in the Wimbledon finals last year.
No sweat for the Swiss
Federer strolled into the quarter-finals without much opposition from Melzer, who surrendered to the defending titleist with a 6-3 6-2 6-3 oust.
After dropping three sets during uncharacteristically lacklustre performances against Alejandro Falla and Ilija Bozoljac in the opening two rounds of grass court play, Federer seems to be back in full form in time for the significant part of the tournament.
On his way into the quarterfinals, the top seeded Federer blasted Arnaud Clement in the third round, and proceeded to brush aside Melzer with a commanding performance which has been his signature trademark at the All England Club since winning the title cup on grass back in 2003.
Federer is now set to face either Tomas Berdych, the 12th seed Czech, or the unseeded Daniel Brands from Germany in the last eight of the men's singles draw.
Surprisingly, 2010 has been somewhat of a disappointing year for Federer, without a single title win in the seven tournaments that he's played after defeating Andy Murray last January in the Australian Open.
A win at Wimbledon would silence speculations about his ability to prolong his legendary status in the game for much longer.
A flawless match for Federer
Dropping his opening service game, Federer registered the only slip-up for the duration of the match.
The fourth round was the farthest that Melzer had ever reached, and Federer made sure to remind him that it takes a superhuman effort to make it further.
Another break followed soon afterwards, with Federer taking advantage of hesitation on the part of the Austrian.
Melzer was under immense pressure to hold his serve, finally crumbling under the challenge in the second set.
Federer produced winners on the Austrian's first serve, crushing his opponent's wobbly second serves and opening up a two-break lead that led to a set victory.
Melzer made very little impact on Federer's serve in the third set, with the world number two breaking again in game seven, finally wrapping up the match in one hour and 24 minutes.
Federer to tie Sampras?
Federer enjoyed an unprecedented run of 23 successive appearances at a Grand Slam semi-final, which was finally taken away at the French Open earlier this year. Losing to Lleyton Hewitt in the grass court final at Halle earlier this month, Federer registered his only second loss in 78 matches on grass.
However, as he progresses up the Wimbledon rounds, Federer is starting to show full form at his favourite surface in his beloved grand slam.
With his long-standing rival Rafael Nadal suffering a knee injury after two exhausting five-set wins, Federer's confidence in tying Pete Sampras' record seven Wimbledon wins is at its highest.
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