Federer sent packing out of Wimbledon


Agencies June 30, 2010

LONDON: Top-seed Roger Federer crashed out of Wimbledon as Czech 12th-seed Tomas Berdych clinched a stunning 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory over the defending champion in the quarter-finals.

Federer has been almost untouchable at Wimbledon for the last seven years, winning the title six times and appearing in every final since 2003, but his reign was brought to an end in sensational fashion.

Berdych’s fearsome delivery kept Federer from establishing any momentum in the first set. In the second set, Federer was at least able to get Berdych’s serve back into play and quickly earned two break points, converted the first with a brilliant passing shot and took the set.

Berdych regained the initiative in the third set, claimed it and then despite Federer earning four break points in the sixth game of the fourth set, Berdych was able to serve his way out of trouble.

Berdych kept hammering away from the baseline and broke for a 4-3 lead when Federer volleyed wide.

Federer made him serve out the match and had a chance to survive when he saved one match-point and earned a break point.

But he netted a forehand and Berdych made him pay to seal one of the biggest upsets in Wimbledon history.

Djokovic through to semis

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic stormed through to the semi-finals with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 win over Taiwan’s Lu Hsun-Yen. World number three Djokovic‘s serve was functioning so well Lu did not have a single break point in the three sets, and managed to wrap up victory in an hour and 51 minutes as Lu, who defeated Andy Roddick in the previous round, was blown away.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 1st, 2010.

COMMENTS (1)

Imran | 13 years ago | Reply "The reason those two double faults happened is because of Roger Federer's legacy," Boris Becker said darkly in the commentary box. And the reason why Berdych was able to come up with some thumping serves and a couple more welting forehands was because he did not give two hoots for Federer's legacy - he was here to make a little bit of history himself. The reason why he escaped from that dark corner was the he really believed that he could win. And win he did. As the crowd stood to applaud the tall man from the Czech Republic, Federer packed away his rackets and waited. Berdych was enjoying the moment, thanking the crowd for their support and grinning from ear to ear. Finally he noticed Federer standing beside the umpire's chair and started tidying up. All the while, the crowd kept applauding but they reserved a last cheer for the defeated champion as he waved one last time. He was saying goodbye to the crowd for this year; the young men in the locker room may believe that he was waving farewell to his era of dominance.
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