For two sets in Wimbledon’s fourth round on Monday, defending champion Novak Djokovic was in serious trouble, unable to solve 6-foot-8 (2.03-meter) Kevin Anderson’s big serve.
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Murray is into his eighth successive Wimbledon quarter-final and takes a 3-0 lead into his match-up with world number 56 Pospisil who had never previously got beyond the third round of a major before this Wimbledon.
Federer broke his Spanish opponent in the fifth game of the first set and again in the seventh to win it in 19 minutes.
Federer will face Gilles Simon in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
The seven-time Wimbledon victor has not been broken so far this tournament and has faced just two break points en route to today’s quarter-final, which is incidentally his 45th at a major – the most appearances at that stage by any man in the Open Era.
Nonetheless, the second seed did have to sweat a little on Centre Court yesterday to get by Sam Groth 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2 in two and a quarter hours and book a fourth-round match against Roberto Bautista Agut tomorrow.
Bautista Agut had an injury break during the second set but carried on. REUTERS/Toby Melville Roberto Bautista Agut during his match against Roger Federer during day Seven of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon.
“I got things figured out at the moment”, grinned Federer. Gilles Simon is one of the best return players we have in the game.
“I would think I’ll be tested a lot”, he said.
Chinese player Zheng Jie’s Wimbledon journey came to an end as she and her Finnish partner Henri Kontinen were knocked out of action in mixed doubles.
Meanwhile, third-seed Andy Murray emerged unharmed as he defeated bullet-serving Croat Ivo Karlovic to also reach the quarterfinals at Wimbledon.
The Swiss star, who turns 34 on August 8 and won Wimbledon in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2012, will play France’s Gilles Simon for a spot in the semifinals.
French Open champion Stan Wawrinka continued his flawless record against 16th seed David Goffin of Belgium.
The second set started in much the same way as the first: with Federer on the attack.
” I am pleased with the way I’m playing, definitely”, he said. Anderson had seized the first two frames by identical 7-6(8) scorelines before Djokovic answered 6-1, 6-4. I felt he didn’t know what to do anymore on the court, and for me, it was really clear. “I feel I’m pretty tough that way”.
“In Halle I could have easily lost in the first round”, he said.
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“Of course that leaves less margins for error, but that’s the way I was playing previous year”. Winning an 18th crown is surely at the top of his wish list before calling it quits to his over a decade-long career.
