Federer blasts into quarterfinals, Djokovic scraps through

Followers of former world number one, Roger Federer, were sent down memory lane when the Swiss held the tennis world in awe. Playing against Belgium’s David Goffin yesterday, Federer was as classy as he only can be, giving the crowd a lot to savour.

Federer took the opening game at love; an indication of things to come. He conceded only one point in the third and also in the seventh. He played as a man in a hurry, breaking Goffin in the fourth and eighth game to win the first 6-2 set in 21 minutes.

The second set was just as breezy. Whacking, driving and slicing balls in a combination of offense and defense, the Swiss held on to points.

He broke Goffin in the fourth game but the sixth was a cliffhanger. The game point lasted a record 28 shots, which Federer won. He then held his serve to take the set 6-1 in 29 minutes.

Goffin lost his serve in the first game of the third set, but he tested Federer in his serve. The Swiss double faulted to lose the game point at 40-30; lost the first advantage which he cancelled. In the second opportunity, Federer got a service winner to the game. Goffin hit a volley winner to lead 30-0, followed by a sliced ace serve wide to Federer’s right side. But Federer won three consecutive points to deuce, knocked off advantage point and Goffin needed an ace to hang on to his service game. The crowd roared.

Federer continued his rushing by taking the fourth game at love. Down 30-40 on his serve, Goffin sent Federer wide to the left and needed to keep the ball in a down the line backhand drive. But he sent it into the net.

Federer was up 4-1. Goffin broke Federer to take the fourth game and held to reduce the games tally 4-3. Federer went up 30-0 on an ace second serve and won the game The Frenchman took the ninth game. Serving for the match, Federer won three quick points and delivered an ace to win the set 6-4, in 3 minutes.

Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic faced a stiff battle in his match with Frenchman Gilles Simon, who took the first set. Djokovic broke Simon’s serve once to take the first set six games to three. The second set was a major test for the defending champion.

With each player holding serve, the set got into a tie break which Simon won seven points to four.

Djokovic won the third set 6-4 after a long rally at game point. But the Frenchman took the fourth set also by six games to four. The World number one sealed the match, winning the fifth set 6-3.

Also through to the quarterfinals are Kei Nishikori; Tomas Berdych, Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Agniezka Radwanska and Carla Suarez Navarro.

The traditional middle Sunday is no longer an off-playing day. The daily attendance was 44.668 and night 36,908.