Federer passes Connors by reaching second week 17th time at Wimbledon

LONDON — Roger Federer earned a record-breaking appearance in the last 16 at Wimbledon with a 7-5, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) performance against Frenchman Lucas Pouille on Saturday.

It is the 17th time the 37-yearold Federer has reached the second week of the tennis grass Grand Slam, moving him ahead of Jimmy Connors for the most fourth-round entries after his 98th Wimbledon win.

His longtime rival, Rafael Nadal, also eased through to the last 16 with a 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 victory over 34-year-old Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to remain on course for a potential semifinal clash with Federer.

Meanwhile, in the women’s draw, Serena Williams and world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty dominated their third-round contests on the show courts.

Federer broke serve in the 12th game to take the first set and raced through the second set with three breaks to double his advantage.

“I’m happy that I’m able to raise my level of play,” said Federer, who dropped a set in his opening match against South African Lloyd Harris.

“There was a great run of games midway through the second, also after winning the first. I like seeing moments like that in a match for me.”

The eight-time champion needed to endure a third set tiebreak en route to his 350th Grand Slam match win, which is also more than any other player in the Open era.

“The records mean something to me, but not everything,” added Federer.

Federer will meet Matteo Berrettini on Monday, after the Italian 17th-seed won in five sets against Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman.

Federer had two set-point opportunities to claim the first break of his match with Pouille in game 12 at 6-5. The 20-time Grand Slam winner, who is seeded second for this year’s Wimbledon, surged 4-0 ahead in the second set with a brutal backhand pass en route to a two-set lead.

In the third set, Federer missed an opportunity to claim the match at 6-5, but Pouille escaped with two aces to force a tiebreak.

Federer’s forehand helped him build a 4-1 lead and the former world No. 1 roared, ‘come on,’ when a strong serve helped him to a match-winning margin at 6-3, before Pouille netted a backhand to finish the two-hour match.

Nadal plays Portugal’s Joao Sousa after his 4-6, 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 five-set triumph over Britain’s Dan Evans.

“I played good quality of tennis. Honestly, I felt very comfortable,” said Nadal, an 18-time major winner, after his thirdround win.

“It’s important that after the tough draw I was able to find a way to be in the second week. That gives me some positive feelings.”

Earlier, Williams beat Germany’s Julia Goerges, 6-3, 6-4, in a repeat of last year’s semifinal on Court One.

The 23-time Grand Slam winner will face Carla Suarez-Navarro after the Spaniard claimed a 6-3, 6-3 win over American Lauren Davis.

Barty maintained her impressive form with a 6-1, 6-1 triumph over Britain’s Harriet Dart in a 52-minute onslaught earlier on Centre Court.