By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, July 6, 2018
Roger Federer did not face a break point outclassing Jan-Lennard Struff to extend his his Wimbledon consecutive sets won streak to 29.
Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty
Roger Federer has epic experience at Wimbledon.
The reigning Wimbledon champion is competing like a man intent on holding for eternity.
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Serving with sharp authority, the top-seeded Swiss outclasssed burly German Jan-Lennard Struff, 6-3, 7-5, 6-2, soaring into the Wimbledon fourth round for the 16th time in 20 career appearances.
Federer stretched his Wimbledon consecutive sets won streak to 29.
"I think against big servers who go for a lot it's always difficult to find rhythm and to be exactly sure you're in the driver's seat to be honest," Federer said. "I think I did very well today. The first set not many chances, I was able to win the first set. In the second set I created more chances...I'm quite happy."
Dominance delivers joy.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion has not faced a break point in this fortnight extending his service games held mark to 41.
Playing clean combinations, Federer explored all areas of the service box, won 13 of 14 trips to net, ripped running forehands with precision and even pulled out the SABR to set up a backhand volley in the final set.
One round after Federer fired a record 35 consecutive points on serve dismissing Lukas Lacko, he was nearly invincible on his first deliver again. Federer won 36 of 39 first-serve points.
It all added up to Federer's 175th grass-court victory breaking the men's Open Era record he previously shared with Jimmy Connors.
Continuing his quest for his ninth Wimbledon crown and 99th career championship, Federer flew into a fourth-round showdown with Adrian Mannarino.
The 22nd-seeded Frenchman fought off Daniil Medvedev, 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 5-7, 6-3, to reach the fourth round for the third time.
On the 10th anniversary of his five-set loss to rival Rafael Nadal in the epic 2008 final, Federer produced vintage form for patches of today's match.
Moving fluidly and hitting his forehand with accuracy, Federer slid a sprinting forehand down the line for break point, parried Struff with off-pace slices then zapped a backhand crosscourt breaking for 4-2.
An ace down the middle brought Federer to triple set point.
Despite serving 48 percent, Federer fired through the first set in 24 minutes—his 27th-straight set won at Wimbledon.
Neutralizing Struff's stiff drives with this slice backhand, Federer shifted spins and speeds shrewdly, often beat the German to the ball and forced the 6'5" competitor to bend low and scrape side-spinning shots off the lawn.
Winning an electric 18-shot rally helped the Swiss break for a 6-5 second-set lead. Federer sealed a two-set lead winning 16 of 17 first-serve points and nine of 10 trips to net in a dynamic set.
A funky bounce brought a mischievous smile to Federer's face as his chipped backhand return clipped the serve line and skidded beneath Struff's racquet. The German completely whiffed on a half-volley attempt as Federer broke for 2-1.
Midway through the set, a relaxed Federer pulled out the SABR blocking a backhand volley winner. By then, Struff had thrown virtually everything he had at Federer only to see the Swiss produce all the right answers.
Thumping his ninth ace off the back wall, Federer flew into the fourth round with a clinical 94-minute conquest.