Federer shows no sign of slowing as Pouille is crushed
ON A Centre Court scorched brown by a week of blazing sun, Roger Federer showed that he remains evergreen.
As management stablemate Coco Gauff defies age at one end of the scale, the 37-yearold Swiss continues to do so at the other. Federer beat Lucas Pouille 7-5, 6-2, 7-6 but he saw off old Father Time 6-0, 6-0, 6-0.
He became the first player — male or female — to rack up 350 wins in Grand Slams and surpassed Jimmy Connors’ record of 16 appearances in the Wimbledon fourth round.
A student of the history of the game, Federer offered a caveat to that first tally. ‘Back in the amateur era they couldn’t afford to travel to all the Slams,’ he said, perhaps with the watching Rod Laver in mind, ‘but it’s a nice number.’
Pouille was the equal of the No 2 seed for much of this contest but Federer effectively won the match with a six-game spell of brilliance that took him from 5-5 and break point down to a set and 4-0 up.
‘It was a hard-fought match, especially in that first set,’ he said. ‘To go on a little run there was nice and that was the key.’
This was the first real test of Federer’s mettle this fortnight after he dropped a set to South Africa’s Lloyd Harris in the opening round and then saw off British wildcard Jay Clarke.
No 28 seed Pouille is a more proven Grand Slam performer, with the scalp of Rafael Nadal on his resume as well as an Australian Open semi-final this year under the stewardship of Amelie Mauresmo.
The 25-year-old played his part in what was a fine contest. In the last 16, though, Federer may have more of a challenge.
Italian bruiser Matteo Berrettini toughed out a fiveset win against Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman.
Pouille was the better player for much of the first set.
Federer’s backhand was misfiring and one shank gave Pouille the first break point.
The Frenchman returned the favour, however, and Federer held with a backhand overhead drop shot, which is just as difficult as it sounds.
As afternoon gave way to evening, the business end of the set arrived and at 5-5 Pouille earned a second break point. This was where Federer’s purple patch began. He saved with two smashes.
At 6-5, a succession of razor-sharp Federer volleys put pressure on the Pouille serve and suddenly he had gone from break point up to two set points down.
An overhead took care of the first but on the second he missed a regulation forehand.
At the start of the second set, a flick of Federer’s wrist sent the ball from the back corner past Pouille at the net and followed that with a rasping backhand half-volley.
In set three serving at 5-6, Pouille saved match point with an ace and another took us into a tiebreak which Federer comfortably clinched 7-4.