Wimbledon 2017: Roger Federer eases into quarters with Grigor Dimitrov demolition
ByReuters
Updated 10/07/2017 at 19:11 GMT
Roger Federer secured his passage to the quarter-final stage of Wimbledon with a comfortable 6-4 6-2 6-4 win over Grigor Dimitrov.
Roger Federer of Switzerland acknowledges the crowd as he celebrates victory after the Gentlemen's Singles fourth round match against Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria on day seven of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and C
Image credit: Getty Images
The Bulgarian 13th seed, nicknamed "Baby Fed" when he was a junior on the basis of a single-handed backhand as silkily smooth as the Swiss master's, looked sharp in the early exchanges.
It was close to mirror-image tennis as the two men exchanged searing groundstrokes, gliding to the Centre Court net when they saw an opening to dispatch clinical volleys.
But the difference between the greatest ever player on grass and the man who has struggled for years to emerge from his shadow told on the big points.
Third seed Federer, who missed the clay court season to better prepare for his favourite tournament, took a decisive lead in the ninth game, converting his third break point. The Swiss then served out the first set to love.
"He gave me some opportunities and I was happy to take advantage of them. I felt it was a terrific match for me, I didn't expect it to go that easy," Federer told the BBC.
"It is still very special for me [Wimbledon], I feel privileged to play Centre Court still when they could have put Rafa, Novak or a women's match on.
"I hope I paid them back by playing an exciting match."
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