Philipp Kohlschreiber downs Brian Baker in the fourth round – Wimbledon Championships 2012
World number 30, Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany, advanced to the quarter-final of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career by overpowering the American qualifier, Brian Baker, in the fourth round at the Wimbledon Championships
on Tuesday.
Kohlschreiber needed only one hour and 55 minutes to beat his opponent in straight sets 6-1, 7-6(4), 6-3 and reach the last eight-stage.
The German got off to a flying start, grabbing opening three games of the match to advance to a 3-0 lead. Baker held his serve in the fourth to reduce the trail to 1-4 but Kohlschreiber’s winning spree started once again after
that, as he struck in the sixth and won his next serve to capture it 6-1.
In the second set, Kohlschreiber and Baker put on a brilliant serving display, as they did not drop even a single one, levelling the score at 6-6 and taking it to a tie-breaker. None of the two players was willing to give the other
slightest of advantage, as they went neck to neck to equalise it at 4-4. However, Kohlschreiber used his experience and played some superb forehand shots later on, clinching three straight points to seal it 7-6(4).
Kohlschreiber and Baker began by holding their serve in the first three games to take the score to 2-1 in the former’s favour. The German struck in the fourth one and consolidated on it to move ahead 4-1. Kohlschreiber held his
serve throughout the set to win it 6-3.
Talking to the media persons later on, Kohlschreiber said, “I'm very, very happy. It's very tough to describe the real feelings. I'm very happy how I played. Also, lucky, at the end, with the weather, that I could finish my match.
It's just an amazing feeling. For sure I will celebrate. I have a lot of confidence now. I like the courts."
Kohlschreiber’s countryman, Florian Mayer, also joined him in the quarter-finals. This is for the first time in last 15 years that two German men have reach the last four at Wimbledon.
Commenting on this fact, Kohlschreiber said, "It's really great for all of us. Normally the women are more in the press. So we're very happy that we say at least we come closer to them. Maybe they pushed us in the past they had
such great success. Now we're very happy we have two players in the quarter-finals.”
The German is pitted against the fifth seed, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France, in the quarters.
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