Federer Finishes in Five as Djokovic Overcomes Slow Start to Advance at Wimbledon

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Federer Finishes in Five as Djokovic Overcomes Slow Start to Advance at Wimbledon

By Erik Gudris

Photo Credit: Paul Gilham/Getty Images

(June 29th, 2012) Unfortunately for Julian Benneteau, ultimately the mind was willing but the body was weak.

Benneteau came very close to pulling off another stunning early round upset at this year's Wimbledon before No. 3 seed Roger Federer pulled out yet another victory from being two sets to love down.

Benneteau put his classic all-court game to good use as he broke Federer at 4-all in the first set before claiming it 6-4. Federer, who looked flat and bore a disdainful countenance as if he wished he were somewhere else besides the Centre Court that saw him win six Wimbledon titles, spent most of the first two sets hitting his shots with little power or conviction. Federer managed to earn three set points late in the second set, but the Frenchman snuffed them out with clutch serving to force a tiebreak that he went on to win seven points to three.

Undeterred by being two sets down, Federer mounted his comeback in the first game of the third set by breaking Benneteau allowing Federer to eventually run away with the set in just 27 minutes.

The fourth set became the true test of both men as each held serve to force yet another tiebreak that was played on a razor's edge as Benneteau came within two points of winning the match until Federer, with the help of a netted forehand by the Frenchman, claimed the set and sent it into a decider.

If the Centre Court crowd hoped for a stirring finale to the dramatic match, they were met with disappointment as Benneteau began to suffer from fatigue and an apparent leg issue that made it difficult for him to even serve. Benneteau held his opening service game but couldn't continue his blissful play from that start of the match, allowing Federer to capitalize on break point as the Swiss hit a sizzling forehand return to break for 3-1.

Barely able to move at some moments, a visibly saddened Benneteau could do little to stop Federer from racing out to a 5-1 lead. On match point, Benneteau netted a final backhand giving Federer a 4-6, 6-7(3), 6-2, 7-6(6), 6-1 victory.

"It was a tough match. Oh my God, it was brutal," said Federer afterwards. "Bit of luck maybe on my side, who knows? I tried in the third, fourth and fifth to stay alive. I'm very fortunate and very happy the crowd was so into the match, and I appreciate that enormously."

Djokovic Advances, Querrey Upsets Raonic

Hoping to avoid an early round loss to a tricky opponent as befell Rafael Nadal yesterday, top seed Novak Djokovic overcame a slow start to advance to the fourth round of Wimbledon.

Facing No. 28 seed Radek Stepanek who had beaten the Serb back in 2006, Djokovic was initially disrupted by the veteran's all court play as Stepanek won the last eight points of the first set to take it 6-4. But Djokovic rolled through the next seven games to take the second set and with the help of 56 winners, Djokovic earned a 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 win.

Unseeded American Sam Querrey earned a surprise four set win over No. 21 seed Milos Raonic in a second round match that was halted midway through the third set yesterday due to darkness. Querrey took the third set in a tiebreak and then managed a key break of serve in the fourth set that allowed him to serve out the match 6-7(3), 7-6(7), 7-6(8), 6-4.

Day Six Preview

The first Saturday of Wimbledon promises even more blockbuster action as No. 4 seed Andy Murray takes on Marcos Baghdatis while No.5 seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga hopes to keep his Wimbledon chances alive as he faces Lukas Lacko.

The standout match of the day will be between No. 7 seed David Ferrer who takes on a rejuvenated No. 30 seed Andy Roddick. Though Ferrer leads the head to head 6 to 4, Roddick did win their last meeting at a Grand Slam at last year's U.S. Open. Despite having never gotten past the fourth round of Wimbledon in his career, Ferrer is tipped to prevail in four sets.