By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, July 4, 2016
Roger Federer outclassed Steve Johnson to reach his record-tying 14th Wimbledon quarterfinal and equal Martina Navratilova's record for most major singles victories.
Photo credit: Getty
Dashing forward, Roger Federer caught up to a drop shot and flicked a backhand by Steve Johnson that dabbed into the corner like a splash of yellow paint on a green canvas.
The 34-year-old Swiss' closing speed and artistic answers left Johnson shaking his head at times as Federer blotted him right out of the fourth-round frame.
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The multi-tasking master applied his variety with destructive effect overwhelming Johnson, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5, in his sharpest performance of the tournament to surge into his 14th Wimbledon quarterfinal.
"I was very happy with how I played," Federer told the BBC afterward. "I didn't think it was easy as it maybe looked because I thought Steve picked up some nice confidence over the last few weeks and you could see it. He's got a nice game for grass, nice serve, nice slider, good slice. But I was trying to come into that backhand side and make him hit a lot of passing shots and I think I mixed it up well today."
Some players exhibit anticipation, Federer plays with prescience.
That's because Federer is not only confronting opponents in this Wimbledon field, he's continuing to challenge iconic champions simultaneously.
It was a milestone victory for Federer, who earned his 306th Grand Slam win equaling Martina Navratilova's record for most major singles win in history while tying Jimmy Connors' mark for most Wimbledon quarterfinal appearances.
The seven-time Wimbledon champion has not surrendered a set through four rounds. Seeing world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, who defeated Federer in the last two Wimbledon finals, now out of the picture, the 17-time Grand Slam champion is looking like a man on a mission chasing his record eighth Wimbledon crown.
"I would have never thought I was gonna win the first four matches in straight sets," Federer said. "I'm extremely pleased. The matches might be tough but the rest in between is great. We're used to playing five straight days, sometimes, at other ATP events. So here, you get every second day a day off. For tennis players, professional athletes, that's huge."
Contesting his first career Grand Slam fourth rounder on the Fourth of July was an immense challenge for Johnson.
The backhand is Johnson's weaker wing. It's not nearly as biting as Federer's slice, but in the early stages his low slice caused some issues for the third seed. A lawn-hugging slice provoked a shanked forehand from Federer, who faced a second break point in the fifth game.
Federer slid a serve down the middle to deny it, eventually holding for 3-2. From there it was off to the races.
That hold sparked a run of five straight games as the Swiss quickly put distance between himself and the 29th-ranked American.
Whipping a backhand pass, Federer handcuffed Johnson, who nudged a volley into net dropping serve for the first time.
Slashing a forehand into the corner, Federer drew an errant forehand reply wrapping up the opening set in just 26 minutes.
Drawing Johnson forward with a short slice, Federer again challenged the American's volley drawing a netted reply to break for a 3-1 second-set lead.
Accelerating through another love hold, Federer quickly consolidated the break.
Darting a serve winner out wide, Federer breezed to a two-set lead after just 55 minutes.
Outclassed to that point, Johnson played his best game of the match, stepping into the court and drilling his best shot, the inside-out forehand, scoring his first break for a 3-1 third-set lead.
It was short-lived as Federer immediately broke back. He spent the rest of the match dragging Johnson into awkward places befuddling the
Deadlocked at 5-all, Johnson froze. He opted to let a Federer pass go by only to see the ball drop in then brain-cramped with a failed tweener attempt off a deep return to face break points. Federer attacked the American's backhand and charged forward carving out the break with a loud "come on!"
A second serve ace down the T sealed a 97-minute triumph in style.
Accurate serving and an aggressive mindset powered Federer into the last eight. He dropped only eight points on his second serve and won 33 of 40 trips to net tormenting the Americans backhand wing.
Those elements of his game will be essential when Federer faces Marin Cilic for a spot in the final four.
The ninth-seeded Croatian held a 6-1, 5-1 lead over Kei Nishikori when the fifth-seeded Japanese retired with a rib injury on Court No. 2.
Cilic denied Federer's major dreams blitzing the Swiss, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4, in the 2014 US Open semifinals before beating Nishikori to capture the Flushing Meadows major.
"I practiced with him when I arrived here at Wimbledon. He was playing great. 1‑2, 1‑2, 1‑2, serving, boom, forehand, serving, boom, backhand," Federer said of Cilic. "He's very aggressive. He blew me off the court at the US Open. I know what I'm getting into. He's really tough to play. He's really improved his serve in the last few years, especially since US Open. I've never seen him serve that consistently well. He can clearly do it here at Wimbledon, too. I think the weather's also getting a bit warmer, so the conditions are faster, rather than playing indoors, which might help him, too.
"But I'm happy about my game as well, that I've been able to rise now to the occasion and play a really good match against Johnson today. I think it was by far my best match. I'm confident also going to the Cilic match. I think it's a tough one. He likes grass. He's won Queen's before, I think, and has done well here. I'm looking forward to a tough one here."
Federer never forgets a loss and is aiming to avenge one of his most lopsided US Open losses against the dangerous Cilic.
"Cilic lies ahead. He brushed me off the court like I was nothing at the US Open in the semis a few years back," said Federer, who has won five of six meetings with Cilic. "So I hope to get him back this time. He's a super guy, so I'm looking forward to a tough match, but from here on it's clearly going to be difficult."