SA’s Anderson Czechs out

SOUTH Africa’s Kevin Anderson would be forgiven for never wanting to set eyes on Tomas Berdych again after the Czech beat him for a ninth successive time at Wimbledon yesterday.

The seventh seed won 3-6 6-3 6-4 7-5 to set up a last-16 clash against feisty Australian Bernard Tomic.

Berdych and Anderson had played each other eight times in the past 18 months, and five times this year, with the former Wimbledon finalist winning on every occasion.

The 27th seed Anderson stands 2.03m and has one of the best serves in the game, but he was cut down to size by the heavy-hitting Czech who overcame losing the first set to scrap his way into the lead.

Anderson served for the fourth set leading 5-3, but could not close it out and Berdych, who needed treatment on his back, finished him off three games later, wrapping up victory with a service winner on his second match point.

Playing well even though his father, who’s also his coach, was barred from the tour- nament because of an assault case, 59thranked Bernard Tomic reached the fourth round by eliminating ninth-seeded Richard Gasquet 7-6 5-7 7-5 7-6 yesterday.

Tomic, a 20-year-old Australian, hit 19 aces while getting 80% of his first serves in and saving seven of eight break points.

His father, John Tomic, was told to stay away from Wimbledon and other tournaments while his court case is pending in Madrid, Spain. He is accused of head-butting Tomic’s hitting partner.

Top seed Novak Djokovic ended a highly satisfactory first week by brushing aside Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3 6-2 6-2 to continue his serene progress.

Wimbledon suffered a record-equalling 13th injury withdrawal yester day when Dutchman Igor Sijsling quit a third-round match against Ivan Dodig of Croatia. He was trailing 6-0 6-1 1-0 when he retired.

Dodig has won two of three matches at Wimbledon by retirement. Philipp Kohlschreiber quit in the first round. — Sapa-AP-Reuters