Sports

Saturday June 27, 2009

Paris rematch is on, Federer sets up last-16 clash with Soderling

ROGER Federer set up a Wimbledon last-16 clash with Robin Soderling yesterday, the man he beat to win the French Open and who was once famously described by Rafael Nadal as the most disliked man in tennis.

Federer, bidding for a record-breaking 15th Grand Slam title and a sixth Wimbledon crown, overcame a third-set slump before seeing off German Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-1.

The world number two said: “I felt more pressure two years ago when I was trying to win a fifth Wimbledon title, but I’m relaxed and feeling good about being in the second week.”

Kohlschreiber had lost all his three previous meetings with Federer without winning a set and he was outgunned immediately, slipping to a double break to trail 4-0.

Swinging time: Elena Dementieva returning to Regina Kulikova during their third round match on Friday. Dementieva won 6-1, 6-2. — AP

The 25-year-old German stopped the rot with a break back in the fifth game, but Federer earned a third break to take the set in the ninth game.

Federer cruised through the second set and the second seed was ahead again the third set, but Kohlschreiber levelled at 4-4 before running away with the tiebreak.

It was a brief respite, however, as Federer romped through the fourth set to ensure his place in the second week.

Soderling, the 13th seed, reached the last 16 for the first time with a 7-6 (9-7), 6-4, 6-4 win over Spain’s Nicolas Almagro.

The 24-year-old Swede, fresh from his French Open heroics where he handed Nadal a first career Roland Garros defeat before progressing to a first Grand Slam final, will return to Centre Court on Monday to face the Swiss.

Two years ago, Soderling lost to Nadal in five sets here in an acrimonious encounter which saw the Swede imitate the Spaniard’s habit of pulling at the rear of his shorts.

Nadal described Soderling as one of the least liked players in the locker room.

“It’s tough to play against Roger,” said Soderling. “I’ve played him 10 times, and after the matches I never felt like I played well. It’s not because of me, I think it’s because of him. He makes you play.”

In the women’s draw, Serena Williams put her shock over the death of Michael Jackson to one side to power into the last 16.

The American continued her flawless procession towards a potential final meeting with sister Venus by setting up a last-16 clash with Daniela Hantuchova.

A 6-3, 6-4 win over Italy’s Roberta Vinci ensured Williams has yet to drop a set this year.

It was the death of Jackson however that dominated her post-match press conference and Williams, who had met the self-styled ‘King of Pop’ several times, paid tribute to his legacy as a cultural icon and musical innovator.

“He was a great guy and a complete icon,” she said. “Words can’t express my shock and horror. He was definitely the ultimate celebrity. Any celebrity who met him was completely in awe. I know I was.”

Hantuchova, who lost to Wil­liams in the quarter-finals here in 2002, advanced at the expense of her doubles partner, Ai Sugiyama, with a 6-4, 6-3 victory.

Elena Dementieva cruised past qualifier and Russian compatriot Regina Kulikova 6-1, 6-2. — AFP

Men

Second round: Andy Murray (Bri) bt Ernests Gulbis (Lat) 6-2, 7-5, 6-3; Stanislas Wawrinka (Swi) bt Martmn Vassallo Argello (Arg) 6-3, 6-2, 6-2; Juan Carlos Ferrero (Spa) bt Fabrice Santoro (Fra) 6-7 (1-7), 6-3, 6-4, 6-3; Fernando Gonzalez (Chi) bt Leonardo Mayer (Arg) 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 6-4, 6-4; Radek Stepanek (Cze) bt Potito Starace (Ita) 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3; Jesse Levine (US) bt Pablo Cuevas (Uru) 6-2, 6-1, 4-6, 4-6, 6-3; Viktor Troicki (Srb) bt Daniel Gimeno (Spa) 6-7 (5-7), 6-0, 1-6, 6-3, 7-5.

Third round: Roger Federer (Swi) bt Philipp Kohlschreiber (Ger) 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-1; Robin Soderling (Swe) bt Nicolas Almagro (Spa) 7-6 (9-7), 6-4, 6-4; Fernando Verdasco (Spa) bt Albert Montanes (Spa) 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (7-2); Ivo Karlovic (Cro) bt Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (Fra) 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (5-7), 7-5, 7-6 (7-5).

Women

Second round: Flavia Pennetta (Ita) bt Vania King (US) 6-2, 6-2; Jelena Jankovic (Srb) bt Iveta Benesova (Cze) 6-2, 6-4; Melanie Oudin (US) bt Yaroslava Shvedova (Kaz) 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.

Third round: Nadia Petrova (Rus) bt Gisela Dulko (Arg) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4; Virginie Razzano (Fra) bt Vera Zvonareva (Rus) w.o.; Serena Williams (US) bt Roberta Vinci (Ita) 6-3, 6-4; Elena Dementieva (Rus) bt Regina Kulikova (Rus) 6-1, 6-2; Daniela Hantuchova (Svk) bt Ai Sugiyama (Jpn) 6-4, 6-3; Elena Vesnina (Rus) bt Dominika Cibulkova (Svk) 7-5, 4-6, 6-4; Victoria Azarenka (Blr) bt Sorana Cirstea (Rom) 7-6 (7-02), 6-3.


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