WIMBLEDON: Second seed Roger Federer has achieved a new milestone in his illustrious career after securing a straight sets win over Lucas Pouille in the third round of the Wimbledon Championships.
The eight-time champion surged to a 7-5, 6-2, 7-6(4), victory on Center Court. Becoming the first man in history to win his 350th match at grand slam level. Against Pouille Federer hit 39 winners, which was only one more than his opponent, as well as 14 unforced errors. Sending him into the second week of the grand slam for the 17th time in his career. Something that has never been achieved by anybody else in the history of men’s tennis.
“It’s nice, but it is medium any other way,” Federer commented about his milestone. “I know back in the amateur times they didn’t play all the slams.’
“It’s a nice number to achieve. I enjoyed my slams. They have given me some of the most special and memorable moments in my career.”
Taking on Pouille, who has won five ATP titles on three different surfaces, the Swiss world no.3 was tested early on. Saving two break points during the opener, Federer finally secured his breakthrough at the business end. Leading 6-5 on serve, a Pouille slice drifted beyond the baseline to hand Federer two set points. Missing his first, he prevailed on the second at the expense of another error from the Frenchman.
In the lead, Federer started to gain momentum. Making the world No.28 look somewhat ordinary on Center Court. Throughout the second set, Pouille struggled behind his serve and was broken three out of four times. Federer also dropped serve once, but he was by far the most consistent out of both players. Cruising to the two-set lead it was a shot directly towards Pouille at the net that sealed it for the 20-time grand slam champion.
Whilst is pole position, closing out that match was by no means a straightforward task. Elements of frustration started to creep in for Federer as Pouille refused to go down without a fight. In the end, it would be in a tiebreaker where Federer would prevail. Sealing victory on his second match point after a Pouille backhand slammed into the net.
“That was tough. it was a hard fought match, especially in the first set when he had break points at 5-5.” Said Federer.
“In the third (set) it was tough, very even. There is always a relief winning the third set breaker because if it goes the other way I could have been a couple of hours longer.”
Federer will now play Italy’s Matteo Berrettini, who has reached the last 16 of a major for the first time at the age of 23. Berrettini outlasted Diego Schwartzman 7-6(5), 6-7(2), 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-3, in a marathon encounter that lasted almost four-and-a-half hours.
The upcoming clash will be the first meeting between the two.
