Roger Federer (2) withstood the heavy bombardment that was Sam Groth’s service action to come through somewhat unscathed in 4 sets, 6-4 6-4 6-7(5) 6-2 in 2 hours and 16 minutes. Federer took his chances and broke Groth once in the first two sets. Groth was fighting hard but his game is not one of variety and playing against Federer, one needs a full repertoire. Federer was in full command up 2-0 sets. Cordell Hackshaw
In the 3rd set, he was unable to get a break and so the set was forced to a tiebreaker. Federer double faulted for first time and gave Groth the mini break. He committed a few more errors, missing the openings for passing shots. Groth was now back in the match taking the 3rd set 7-6(5). In the 4th set, Federer quickly shifted the momentum back in his favour breaking Groth in the 2nd game and held for 3-0. Groth now had his back against the wall and was unable to push off. Federer broke again to close out the match 6-2 in the 4th set. Federer will take on Spain’s Roberto Bautista-Agut (20) who easily dismissed Nikoloz Basilashvili in straight sets 7-6 6-0 6-1.
Bautista-Agut’s countryman Pablo Andujar did not have such an easy time against his 3rd round opponent Tomas Berdych (6). Andujar took the opening set 6-4 but did not win a game in the 2nd dropping it at love. Berdych continued to apply the pressure to the Spaniard in the 3rd set denying him any break point opportunities and was soon up 2-1 sets. In the 4th set, Andujar battled hard as he broke to level things at 2-2 after Berdych broke to take the early lead. Andujar would break again in the 9th game to serve for the set at 5-4. However, Berdych did not want to see a 5th set and so he too broke to level the matter at 5-5. This forced the set to a breaker as neither player would break. Berdych lifted his game and took the breaker 7-3 point and thus the match 4-6 6-0 6-3 7-6(3).
Berdych will play Gilles Simon (12) who had to get by his countryman Gael Monfils (18) on two different courts. Theirs was the last singles match of the day, scheduled originally on Court 1. However, in the middle of the 4th set, Simon up 2-1 sets, 3-6 6-3 7-6(6), the match was suspended because of fading light and moved to Centre Court. Monfils found his range again and took the 4th set 6-2. In the decisive set, Monfils’ showboating got the better of him as he continued to make too many unforced errors. Simon, not surprisingly, proved to be the steadier of the two and so took the set and the match 3-6 6-3 7-6(6) 2-6 6-2. Monfils had an impressive 60 winners in the match 20 of which were aces compared to the 27 winners and 2 aces of Simon. On the other hand, Monfils had 67 errors which became his undoing as Simon only had 30.
Two-time Wimbledon semifinalist, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (13) saw all hopes of him going further this year dashed when he was upset by Ivo Karlovic (23) in 4 sets, 7-6(3) 4-6 7-6(2) 7-6(9). Even more noteworthy about this match is the fact that in the 4th set tiebreaker, Tsonga had set point 7-6 to force a 5th set. However, Karlovic took two swings on the forehand volley which went unnoticed by the chair umpire. Thus Karlovic won the point for 7-7, extending his life in the set. He eventually took it 11-9 points. After the match Tsonga felt that it was something that the chair umpire should have caught. However, Karlovic felt what he did was within the rule as his stroke which made contact with the ball twice was in a single motion.
Karlovic’s opponent in the 4th round would be the home favourite Andy Murray (3) who took out Andreas Seppi (25) 6-2 6-2 1-6 6-1. This match was marked by the very “opportuned” medical time outs. Seppi took one in the early part of the 3rd set and then went on to win 6 straight games. This winning streak earned Seppi the 3rd set 6-1 and a break in the 4th set 1-0. Then it was Murray’s turn to get some “medical treatment” for his shoulder and/or back. Murray too went on a 6-game winning streak to win the match. Both players apparently shared a laugh at net regarding the peculiar circumstances of the match.
In the other two matches, Viktor Troicki (22) took out Dustin Brown, the qualifier to knocked out Rafael Nadal (10) in the 2nd round. Troicki won 6-4 7-6 4-6 6-3. His opponent in the Round of 16 would be Canadian Vasek Pospisil who dashed local British hopes when he defeated wild card entrant James Ward 6-4 3-6 2-6 6-3 8-6. Marin Cilic (9) made quick work of John Isner (17) upon resumption of their match suspended on Day 5 due to darkness. Tied at 10-10 in the 5th set when play finished the day before, Cilic broke Isner in the 22nd game to take it 7-6 6-7 6-4 6-7 12-10.
So the Round of 16s for the men’s draw are set and all eight matches would be played on Monday. They are as followed:
Novak Djokovic (1) v Kevin Anderson (14)
Marin Cilic (9) v Denis Kudla (w)
Stan Wawrinka (4) v David Goffin (16)
Richard Gasquet (21) v Nick Kyrgios (26)
Vasek Pospisil v Viktor Troicki (22)
Ivo Karlovic (23) v Andy Murray (3)
Tomas Berdych (6) v Gilles Simon (12)
Roberto Bautista-Agut (20) v Roger Federer (2)
