Roger Federer sets up Berrettini clash at Wimbledon with convincing Pouille win
Roger Federer beat France’s Lucas Pouille 7-5 6-2 7-6 on Centre Court today, to record his 350th Grand Slam win.
Both competitors held serves confidentiality early on. Pouille, unfazed by his first time on Centre Court, had a break point opportunity at 3-3 but skewed a forehand wide before being at the end of some trademark Federer net play to hold. Another chance came for the 25 year old at 5-5, but some more exquisite play at the net saw the Swiss maestro hold.
Having not had a break point opportunity, Roger Federer found himself with two set points on the Pouille serve after an unforced error from the French racket. Pouille, who had seemed to crumble under pressure, saved the first but sent an aggressive forehand wide to give his opponent the set.
The number two seed carried momentum with him into the second set, and broke the man from Northern France instantly. A now lost looking Pouille watched a class Federer passing shot to be broken a second time in the set and give Federer a 4-0 lead.
In round one South African Lloyd George Harris was the only man to break Federer before this match, but the 28th ranked Pouille got one break back instantly to bring the second back to 4-1. However a subsequent hold and break of serve saw the 20 time Grand Slam champion close the second set 6-2 after just an hour and a quarter.
Federer looked in full control going into the third set, and held serve comfortably. However Pouille looked more confident and stronger behind serve. He showed the crowd he would not go down without a fight, and also held serve throughout, saving a match point 5-6 down when Federer sent a forehand down the line wide. The third set was to go to a tiebreak.
Despite the Frenchman’s energy, the Swiss star looked comfortable in the tiebreak, instantly earning a mini-break off Pouille serve. In fact Federer sailed to a 7-4 win with ease, to secure his place in the last 16 at Wimbledon for a 17th time.
Next Federer plays Italian Matteo Berrettini who is in his first ever Grand Slam fourth round. The pair have never met before but Federer will go in favourite against the world number 20.
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