Nadal, Federer surge to last-16
Gilles Muller was the last player to beat Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon apart from Roger Federer but the Luxembourger never seriously looked like repeating the feat in the third round this year.
The top seed and defending champion completed a 7-6, 7-6, 6-0 win and although he did have to save two set points in the opening set before rain fell, Nadal looked in total control of his game as he bids to retain his title.
“It was a very difficult match in the first two sets, I had no real chance to break him and the tie-break is like a lottery,” said Nadal. “But I’m happy with how I played the tie-breaks, especially the second one, so it was a very good victory for me and in the third set I played very well.”
Federer, Serena propel
Six-time champion Roger Federer sailed into the last-16, defeating David Nalbandian of Argentina in straight sets 6-4, 6-2, 6-4. Federer now faces either Nicolas Almagro of Spain or 18th-seeded Russian Mikhail Youzhny in the next round for a place in the quarter-finals.
Similarly, defending champion Serena Williams eased past Russia’s Maria Kirilenko 6-3, 6-2 to reach the fourth round in her most dominant display at the tournament so far. Williams, the four-time winner, will face France’s Marion Bartoli, the 2007 runner-up, for a place in the quarter-finals.
Sharapova, Wozniacki progress
Former champion Maria Sharapova eased into the Wimbledon last-16, thriving on the same Court Two which was so bitterly criticised by title rival Serena Williams.
Fifth-seed Sharapova saw off Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-3 and will tackle China’s Peng Shuai for a place in the quarter-finals.
“I haven’t been past the fourth round for a few years so I am happy. I hope to go even more,” said Sharapova. “ The opponents will get tougher but raising your level is what it’s all about at the Grand Slams.”
Meanwhile, top-seed Caroline Wozniacki was as untroubled as Sharapova with the Danish world number one reaching the fourth round for the third successive year with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Australia’s Jarmila Gajdosova on Centre Court.
Wozniacki, still searching for a first Grand Slam title, will next face Slovakian 24th-seed Dominika Cibulkova who booked her last-16 place with a 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 win against German 16th-seed Julia Goerges.
Murray fights for victory
British fourth-seed Andy Murray reached the last-16 with a nervy 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 win over Croatia’s Ivan Ljubicic under the Centre Court roof.
World number four Murray will face French 17th-seed Richard Gasquet on Monday for a place in the quarter-finals.
The 24-year-old Scotsman, looking to become the first British men’s champion since Fred Perry in 1936, overcame second and fourth set wobbles against the tournament’s oldest player to secure his place in the second week.
“It was a tough one. Both of us were struggling with our second serves,” said Murray. “It’s very intense here — I just need to serve better, but I returned well and I’m ready.”
Meanwhile, last year’s runner-up Tomas Berdych coasted into the last-16 and his smooth progress through the draw continued to go almost unnoticed outside the Czech Republic. The 25-year-old Czech completed his 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 win over American Alex Bogomolov Jr which was carried over from
Friday.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 26th, 2011.
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