Roger Federer has raced to the quarter-finals of the Wimbledon Championships after dismissing America’s Steve Johnson 6-2, 6-3, 7-5.
Playing in his 15th Wimbledon fourth round, Federer had a tough matchup against an inform Johnson, who had an eight-match winning streak on the grass after winning his first ATP title in Nottingham. The unseeded American also had the best preparation for the showdown with a win over Grigor Dimitrov, a player who has earned the nickname ‘Baby Fed’ for the similarity in his playing style to the Swiss player.
Regardless of Johnson’s momentum, Federer was a player in a superior class compared to the underdog. Fending off a duo of break points at the start of the match, the third seed launched his first attack in the sixth game when a speedy backhand forced the American to produce an error at the net, gifting him a 4-2 lead in the opening set. Federer’s surge continued when he fiercely returned a Johnson serve to grab his first set point. The 28-minute set ended when a lengthy exchanged between both players finished with a Johnson error.
Signs of knee issues or back problems was nowhere to be seen as the 34-year-old continued to dictate play beyond the first set. Repeating the start of the match, another fast forehand return from the baseline by the Swiss player triggered another Johnson error at the net, extending Federer’s lead to a set and a break. Johnson did occasionally produce glimmers of his best tennis, but it was still not enough to have any impact on the match. Easing to a two-set lead, Federer fired an ace out wide to edge closer towards the finish line.
Federer was the first seed to play Johnson in this year’s tournament. The win was inevitable, but the American remained resilient throughout the third set. A series of blistering forehand winners gave the world No.29 his first break in the match before it was retrieved immediately by Federer. Moving closer towards a tiebreak, Federer struck once against at 5-5 by breaking for a chance to serve the match out. Handing his final blow to the unseeded American, Federer sealed the victory with an ace down the line.
“I was very happy with how I played and I don’t think it was as easy as it looked.” Federer said during an interview with the BBC.
“I thought Steve picked up some confidence over the past few weeks and you could really see that. He’s got a nice game for grass, nice serve, nice slice.”
Federer sealed his straight sets triumph with the help of six aces and 35 winners. He will now enter the quarter-finals without losing a set, a massive confidence boost for the seven-time champion following his injury-stricken start to the year.
“I would never have thought that I was going to win the first four matches in straight sets, I’m extremely pleased.” Federer said.
In the last eight he will play Marin Cilic. Cilic reached his third consecutive SW19 quarter-final after his opponent Kei Nishikori retired due to injury. It will be the first meeting between the two since the Croat stunned Federer in the semifinals of the US Open.
“Cilic lies ahead, he brushed me off the court like I was nothing at the US Open a couple years ago.” The 34-year-old recalled.
“I hope to get him back this time. He’s a super guy and it will be a tough match.
The world No.3 is now just three wins away from becoming the oldest Wimbledon men’s champion in the Open Era.
