Flawless Federer simply relentless
LONDON: Roger Federer continued his trailblazing progress at Wimbledon as he overwhelmed Slovakia’s Lukas Lacko 6-4 6-4 6-1 to extend his campaign into the third round yesterday.
Centre Court was treated to another display of sensational serving and genius groundstrokes as Federer outmatched Lacko with some of his finest work.
Defending eight-time champion Federer unleashed a thunderous forehand to earn the first two break points of the match and an uncontrolled effort from Lacko conceded a 4-3 advantage to the 36-year-old Swiss. Lacko, who is ranked 73rd in the world, saved two set points at 5-3, but couldn’t prevent Federer from taking the first set on a rapid service game.
Another effortless topspin- loaded swing from Federer, which claimed the opening break of the second set, was followed by a 60-second service game to pull away with a 4-2 lead.
Federer was relentless as he lost just nine of 61 total points behind his intimidating service. He closed in on victory after securing the second set with three straight aces.
The third set was one-way traffic and Federer killed the contest with a ferocious forehand after 90 minutes of brilliance.
Elsewhere, on Court One, Venus Williams had to recover
from a set down in successive contests to prevail 4-6 6-0 6-1 against Romania’s Alexandra Dulgheru for a place in the third round yesterday.
The ninth-seeded American had struggled in the opening set of her first-round match with Johanna Larsson but roared back to win, and she did the same to Dulgheru.
Dulgheru broke Venus in the ninth game and claimed a first set lead by out-lasting the five-time Wimbledon champion in a lengthy rally.
It didn’t take long for Venus to recover and come back in the match as she broke first and stormed to a 6-0 second set win to force a decider.
Venus rallied to break for a 3-1 head start in the third set before eventually confirming her place in round three after two hours.
Earlier, Karolina Pliskova completely outplayed former double grand-slam champion
Victoria Azarenka to reach the third round.
The Czech seventh seed was a dominant, almost unstoppable force on Centre Court as she dispatched Azarenka 6-3 6-3 in 72 minutes.
Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens is also through with a 6-4 6-0
result against Russian Anna Blinkova, but Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska is out following a 7-5 6-4 loss to Czech Lucie Safarova.
Seven- times champion Serena Williams moved up a gear at Wimbledon to beat Bulgarian qualifier Viktoriya
Tomova 6-1 6-4 and reach the third round.
In the men’s draw, Canadian Milos Raonic overcame a hardfought, triple-tie-break battle to defeat Australian John Millman 7-6(4) 7-6(4) 7-6(4).
French 17th seed Lucas Pouille fell short in five sets after fighting from two sets down to be beaten 6-4 6-2 6-7(8) 3-6 6-2 by Austria’s Dennis Novak.
But where Pouille failed, his compatriot Gael Monfils succeeded in a 3-6 6-3 7-6(5) 7-6 (3) triumph over Italian Paolo Lorenzi.