Federer takes fancy route to advance
Swiss star hits one shot between his leg to beat American admirer Querrey
WIMBLEDON, ENGLAND— As befits a 17time Grand Slam champion, Roger Federer is so magisterial, so imperious, so serene.
But on this morning, at least in this moment, he was in a playful mood. Which perhaps is not really so unusual in a man who’s father to two sets of twins under the age of six. Doubtless a lot of fun and games in that household.
On Thursday, the Swiss maestro amused the Centre Court crowd no end by delivering a hot-dog shot in the midst of his yawn-easy straight sets dismissal of American Sam Querrey, the kind of Harlem Globetrotters trick that is normally frowned upon in tennis. But who’s going to lay a frown on Federer?
Standing on the toes of his left foot from behind his own baseline, right foot at nearly a 45 degree angle in the air, Federer deftly lobbed the ball be- tween his legs, over Querrey’s head and just inside the far baseline. Querrey got to it but his return sank into the net.
Audacious stunt. Sly little smile on Roger’s face.
“It’s rare that those shots happen so when they do you have to pull them off,” observed Federer, who is in pursuit of a record eighth Wimbledon title. “If you don’t win the point you do look a little bit silly.
“It was the perfect shot. I even had a little bit of time of time which allowed me to get into position. It just felt like I had time.”
All the time in the world, in a match that was over in under an hour and a half, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2.
No, Federer wasn’t show-boating at all, he insisted. That was simply the best return available to him, with an open grip ready for a slice or a scoop. “But then I was like, I feel better almost shuffling my feet. Easiest way for me was somehow through the legs rather than coming to a complete standstill and then hitting a lob, which he would have seen where it was going to go.
“Through the legs, you’re not sure if it’s going to come short or high. I got lucky. I hit it perfect. “And it was fun.” Not so much fun on the other side of the net, though. Even if Querrey could admire it, and the virtuoso who pulled it off.
“He’s got that aura about him. Today, he hit that shot between the legs. He hit some amazing passing shots, hit some volleys. He hits shots that other guys don’t hit.”
Indeed, Querrey sounded like more of a fan than a defeated opponent.
“You want to go over and give him a high five sometimes, but you can’t do that.”
When that comment was relayed to Federer, he was suitably charmed. “He said that? That’s cool. Why not, he can do it. I’m happy to do it too.”
Shuffled off Centre Court yesterday to Show Court 1, oddly, was U.K. hero Andy Murray, who dispatched Dutchman Robin Hasse easy-peasy, 6-1, 6-1, 6-4, to advance to the second round. The first set sped by in 20 minutes, decided on a heavy forehand into the far corner, with Murray dropping just one point on serve despite a first-serve percentage of merely 38 per cent. He capped off the third set with three brilliant winners.
Murray claimed it wasn’t as easy as it looked, as if, but definitely an improvement over his somewhat lumbering first-round win.
“There are still nerves,” said the 2013 champion. “That is good for me because I like it when I am nervous. I feel I give more attention when I am that way.”
Then the Scotsman tossed his sweaty wristband into the Royal Box. Somehow it ended up in the purse of the Duchess of Cornwall. That’s Camilla, Prince Charles’ wife, for the non-royal cognoscenti.
It was a fine day for Vancouver’s Vasek Pospisil too.
The defending doubles champion (with American partner Jack Sock) posted a four-set win over 30th seed Fabio Fognini, 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3, breaking the fiery Italian three times, converting on 83 per cent of his first serve points and firing 23 aces.
That puts the 25-year-old through to uncharted territory — third round at Wimbledon for the first time in his career. Next up for Pospisil is Londoner James Ward.