Roger Federer rallies past Mikhail Youzhny into the quarterfinals – Wimbledon Championships 2011
World number 3, Swiss Maestro Roger Federer survived a scare in the first set to prevail over world number 17 Mikhail Youzhny of Russia in four sets 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 in the fourth round of Wimbledon Championships at the All
England Club in London on Monday. It took the Swiss three hours and two minutes to beat his opponent in a tough contest.
Federer and Youzhny failed to create any break point opportunity in the first set and tied the score at 6-6 to force a tie-break. The Russian claimed an early mini-break in the tie-break and capitalised on it to win the tie-break
7-5.
Youzhny served pretty averagely, hitting just 61 percent of the first serves and only a single ace in the first set. The Russian smashed twelve winners and made seven unforced errors in the opening set.
After losing a close first set, Federer came back as he broke Youzhny in the fifth game of the second set and held his serve in the next game to take a 4-2 lead. The Swiss did not allow Youzhny to break back and served out the
set at 5-3.
Federer served well as he fired five aces and won an incredible 92 percent of the first service points in the second set. The former world number 1 grabbed 80 percent of the net approach points in the second set.
The Swiss legend came roaring in the third set as he broke Youzhny in the second game and fourth game to race to a 5-0 lead. Youzhny fought back and claimed next three games to reduce Federer’s lead to 5-3. However, the Swiss succeeded
in sealing the match in the ninth game, winning it 6-3.
The six feet and one inch tall returned quite well, clinching 50 percent of the receiving points in the third set. The Swiss capitalised on two of the four break point opportunities he created on Youzhny’s serve in the third set.
In a similar fashion to the previous set, Federer gained an early lead in the fourth set as he broke the Russian in the opening game to go ahead 2-0. The right-handed kept the advantage throughout the set, claiming it 6-3.
After the match, Federer reflected, “I thought even though I lost the first set it was good tennis. He didn't have a break point. I played a good breaker actually. I thought overall we played a good match from start to finish.
Good rallies, good atmosphere; it was fun.”
The sixteen time grand slam champion will face world number 19 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France in the quarterfinals. The French downed seventh seed David Ferrer of Spain in straight sets 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(1) in the fourth round.
Talking to the reporters, Tsonga anticipated, “It's going to be good tennis. He was a guy I kind of expected to come through in that section. It happened, so it's going to be a tough match. I think he's got the weapons to be
a huge threat on grass, make a run here. It's a tough draw, but I'm ready for it.”
This will be the sixth meeting between Federer and Tsonga. The Swiss leads Tsonga 4-1 in the head-to-head series.
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