By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, July 1, 2021
Aiming for a record 13th Wimbledon final, Roger Federer knows all about advancing to championship Sunday at SW19.
The 39-year-old Federer fired 49 winners today sweeping Richard Gasquet to reach his record 18th Wimbledon third round. Federer is the oldest man to make round three since a 40-year-old Ken Rosewall in 1975.
More: Federer Flies Into 18th Wimbledon Third Round
Oddsmakers are impressed elevating Federer to third favorite at 11/1 odds behind world No. 1 and major favorite Novak Djokovic (5/7) and Daniil Medvedev at 8/1.
Though Federer doesn't follow the odds, he sees three seeds—the second-seeded Medvedev, fourth-seeded Alexander Zverev and seventh-seeded Matteo Berrettini—as the top contenders to reach a first Wimbledon final, while putting himself in the group as well.
Pointing to Berrettini's undefeated record on grass this season, which included his run to a second grass title at Queen's Club, Federer suggests the Italian, who is fourth favorite at 16/1, is a threat.
"Whoever wins Queen's is always very high with that," Federer said. "Plus he won Stuttgart two years ago, I believe. He had a decent Wimbledon a couple years ago."
US Open finalist Zverev has won four of seven meetings vs. Federer, including a 2016 Halle semifinal win on grass.
"I feel like Zverev also should be higher maybe because I've played him on grass before," Federer said. "I know he can play very well on the grass, especially if he's clocking his serves.
"Medvedev, sorry, he's No. 2 in the world. It's normal that he should be up there, as well. Then me with my results here, they always have to put me in somewhere."
While Federer says odds are irrelevant, he believes bookmakers are right establishing Djokovic as a strong favorite to win his third straight Wimbledon title and equal rivals Rafael Nadal and Federer collecting his 20th Grand Slam championship.
"I don't know how to explain it to you," Federer said. "I don't care. It doesn't matter. But they probably are right about Djokovic making all those finals on the other side, that he's the favorite."
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