Agencies
London, July 4
Roger Federer overcame the big-serving Sam Groth in four sets to reach the fourth round at Wimbledon.
The Swiss second seed, 33, lost his first set of the tournament but eventually won 6-4 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-2. Despite firing the second-fastest serve in Wimbledon history with a 147mph effort, Australian Groth, 27, was outclassed by the seven-time champion.
Federer will face Spanish 20th seed Roberto Bautista Agut in the last 16 on Monday.
The Swiss said of Groth, “He’s got a big serve and is a good mover coming forward but I need to focus on my serving games and I dealt with that very well. I’m very happy with the way I played and I’m very pleased with the first week.”
A single break in each of the first two sets put Federer in control, as the world number 66 failed to exert pressure on last year’s finalist.
Federer was not troubled on his serve until the 12th game of the third set when Groth took him to deuce.Although he held serve, the Swiss double-faulted at 3-3 in the resulting tie-break to hand Groth the mini-break and the Australian, who was increasingly comfortable at the net, took the set when Federer missed a forehand pass.
However, a forehand return allowed Federer to break early in the fourth set and he sealed victory with another stinging return.
Wozniacki storms into second week of Wimbledon
Caroline Wozniacki, the Viking princess of tennis, raced into the second week of Wimbledon with a cruise of a victory against Italian youngster Camila Giorgi.
The former world No 1 from Denmark has rediscovered her best form in the past few months – and the way the draw has opened up she has a serious chance of reaching a Wimbledon final for the first time in her career.
Wozniacki broke her opponent’s serve in the first game of the contest, and never looked back.
A string of double faults from the inconsistent Giorgi was a bonus she capitalised on with ruthless intent.
The scoreline of 6-2, 6-2 thoroughly reflected the one-sided nature of the showdown on court No 1 that was clinched in just over an hour.
Just as Rory McIlroy’s golf has improved since the pair’s planned wedding was called off, so Wozniacki looks a competitor re-born.
Her service was strong, but it was a couple of delicate winning lobs that perhaps best illustrated her control of this third round match.
Giorgi’s power on her groundstrokes was wasted as she made a cascade of unforced errors, striving too hard to make an impact against the Dane. Like most Italian players she looked uncomfortable on grass.
In contrast, Wozniacki appeared to be playing within herself, a good sign for the 24-year-old who was the Wimbledon junior champion in 2006, but who has never gone past the fourth round in the main event.
On this evidence that should change this year for the avid Liverpool football supporter.
She will now face unseeded Spanish youngster Garbine Muguruza who beat German 10th seed Angelique Kerber.
Muguruza, 21, took the victory in three sets by a score of 7-6(12) 1-6 6-2 in two hours and 37 minutes.
Kerber had chances to break and take an otherwise close first set, but her comparatively inexperienced opponent showed resilience to take it to a tie break.
There was little to separate the duo in the decider, with Muguruza eventually taking it 14-12 to take the first set in one hour and 25 minutes.
Kerber showed her class in the second set though, racing into an early lead and then breaking again to take the set 6-1.
However, Muguruza reeled off a break of her own early in the third, and despite sustained pressure from Kerber, she held on to advance to the fourth round.
