Iffy Federer through as Djokovic destroys Troicki
Iffy Federer through as Djokovic destroys Troicki
Roger Federer was off colour against Xavier Malisse and appeared on the verge
of retiring with a sore back before claiming a 7-6 6-1 4-6 6-3 victory
to stay on track for a record-equalling seventh Wimbledon title, while
Novak Djokovic had little trouble beating fellow Serb Viktor Troicki.
The Swiss needed a lengthy injury time-out in the first
set when he was barely moving, but returned to win the opening set
tie-break and after a rain delay, and further treatment at the end of
the third set, he found some fluency to reach the quarter-finals despite
looking far from his best.
Top seed Djokovic, meanwhile, showcased his full armoury of
shots as he sauntered into the quarter-finals with a 6-3 6-1 6-3
demolition of countryman Troicki.
Several matches were suspended due to rain and bad light and will be resumed tomorrow, with Andy Murray and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga among the names in action.
Britain's world number four Murray was a set and a break up against Marin Cilic, with French number one and fifth seed Tsonga a set behind to American Mardy Fish.
The sight of Federer needing treatment is a rarity as the Swiss's
body has seemed to defy medical belief over a largely injury-free
career.
That is why it was such a shock to see him in obvious discomfort against Malisse on Centre Court.
During the first set he could do no more than push his serve into court while his forehand was half paced.
His future in the tournament looked as bleak as the looming clouds
when he went off for treatment at 4-3 and then slipped a break down on
his return.
He dug deep to break back when Malisse served for the opener and then rattled through the tie-break.
After another rain delay, when the roof was surprisingly left open,
the third seed returned to move two sets ahead and although Malisse won
the third and was a break up in the fourth, Federer survived to fight
another day.
"I felt my back going at the beginning of first set and played for three or four games," Federer said.
"Maybe it was the two days off and the cold wind today but I managed to pull through in the end."
He'll next play Mikhail Youzhny, who beat Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan in five sets.
Djokovic came into his encounter on the back of an 11-match winning
streak against his opponent and never looked like relinquishing the
psychological edge as he broke decisively in the sixth game of the first
set before closing it out.
The world number one was in no mood for hanging about in the second,
breaking for the third time with a forehand volley to secure the set in
just 24 minutes.
Troicki sliced a backhand into the net to hand Djokovic a break in
the third and he finished him off to set up a quarter-final against
either Richard Gasquet or Florian Mayer.
That match was suspended with Germany's Mayer a set up against the popular Frenchman.
