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By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, July 2, 2015

 
Roger Federer

Roger Federer deconstructed Sam Querrey with some brilliant shotmaking to reach the Wimbledon third round.

Photo credit: CameraSport/Stephen White

The Duchess of Cornwall was looking over his shoulder while Roger Federer delivered majesty and magic on Centre Court.

Through eight games, Sam Querrey stayed in step with the seven-time Wimbledon champion. Then Federer elevated his game and played over the 6-foot-6 American's head producing one of the most dazzling shots of the tournament.

Video: Federer Wows with Tweener Lob Topping Querrey

Stutter-stepping near the baseline midway through the second set, Federer flicked a tweener lob that soared over the lanky American's head, sent him scurrying back in scrambling pursuit and landed inside the baseline. That audacious bit of shotmaking magic prompted an appreciative roar from the crowd that included Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, seated next to another famous face, Robbie Federer, Roger's father. It also quieted Querrey. .

Playing authoritative all-court tennis, Federer deconstructed Querrey, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2, entertaining monarchy, family and fans in flying into the Wimbledon third round for the 13th time.

It was Federer's seventh straight win.

He looked exceptionally sharp playing with fluidity and flair. Federer broke serve five times against one of the game's biggest first-servers and shined in the front court winning 19 of 22 trips to the net compared to 9 of 22 net points for his opponent.

On Court No. 1, 2013 champion Andy Murray needed just 87 minutes to carve up Robin Haase, 6-1, 6-1, 6-4. Next up for Murray is 25th-seeded Italian Andreas Seppi, who beat Borna Coric, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-1. Murray won Queen's Club and Seppi was runner-up to Federer on the grass of Halle last month.

Murray's Davis Cup teammate, James Ward, defeated Jiri Vesely, 6-2, 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-3, to advance to the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time. Reigning Wimbledon doubles champion Vasek Pospisil upset 30th-seeded Fabio Fognini, 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.

A calm Querrey stayed in step with Federer through the first eight games. The 44th-ranked American can get jittery in Grand Slams—Querrey has not surpassed the fourth round in 34 career major appearances—and when he does tighten up the second serve and backhand are often the shots that shrink. Querrey hit a couple of fine backhand winners, but fell into a triple break point hole in the ninth game.

The rest of that game highlighted the American's strengths and weaknesses. Querrey crushed four straight serves in excess of 130 mph to erase all three break points and earn the ad. The first serve and forehand are Querrey's explosive weapons, but his net play is not nearly as powerful or polished.

Drilling a forehand winner down the line for a fourth break point, Federer forced the big man to volley up then cracked a clean backhand pass crosscourt, breaking for 5-4. Federer slid a slice serve wide to snatch a quality first set in 30 minutes.

The second-seeded Swiss broke to open the second set as Querrey, perhaps still ruing the fact he played to a high standard for much of the opener yet had nothing to show for it, could not manage a sniff on Federer's serve. Throwing down a love hold, Federer stretched the lead to 3-1.

Duchess Camilla

Holding a 4-2 lead, Federer conjured that brilliant tweener lob winner.

In one swing, he transformed the atmosphere of a second-round major match into an exo.

"It was a perfect shot," Federer said afterward. "But if you don't win the point, you look a bit silly."

The shot brought some fans to their feet and Querrey to his knees. Federer broke again for 5-2. The seven-time champion closed the set sending an ace down the middle, seizing a two-set lead after just 56 minutes.

As if that mesmerizing tweener wasn't enough torment for his opponent, Federer made the titanium paste on the sidelines dance in the third set. Nudging a reply off the left sideline, Federer broke again to start the third set with a bang. He backed up the break darting an ace off the sideline.

Plastering a sweeping running forehand crosscourt, Federer secured a second break for 5-2. Querrey earned his first break-point chance since the opening game, but Federer snuffed it out. He closed a commanding performance in one hour, 26 minutes.

Watching massive servers trying to beat Federer with pure pace is like watching a heavyweight fighter trying to knock out a shadow—they swing with menacing intentions but often punch themselves out.

Next up for Federer is another menacing server, Australian Sam Groth. In their last meeting at the 2014 U.S. Open last August, Federer broke five times and reeled off the final four games to defuse Groth, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, in an entertaining second-round victory. Federer hit a clean return winner off a 142 mph serve and blocked back a 147 mph rocket—the fastest serve of the tournament — and barely looked rushed on either strike.


 

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