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Federer serves notice in victory over Johnson

By Jacob Akindele
05 July 2016   |   3:03 am
Johnson opened serving in the first set and held. So did Federer. The American held to go up 2-1 and had two game points to get the crucial break. Federer cancelled the threat and held to level two games apiece.
Switzerland's Roger Federer (R) shakes hand with US Steve Johnson after winning the men's singles fourth round match on the eighth day of the 2016 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 4, 2016. LEON NEAL / AFP

Switzerland’s Roger Federer (R) shakes hand with US Steve Johnson after winning the men’s singles fourth round match on the eighth day of the 2016 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 4, 2016.<br />LEON NEAL / AFP

Roger Federer, winner of 18 grand slam titles, served notice on Centre Court with a straight-set victory over American Steve Johnson; 6/2; 6/3; 7/5. All through the match, Federer hit the ball with authority, playing as a master, especially in the first two sets.

Johnson opened serving in the first set and held. So did Federer. The American held to go up 2-1 and had two game points to get the crucial break. Federer cancelled the threat and held to level two games apiece. It was a reverse of opportunities in the fifth game when Federer broke his opponent’s serve and consolidated to lead 4-2. Johnson fought hard in the seventh game. He was up 30-love but a netted drop shot reduced the tally. He hit an ace timed at 127mph to have game point but Federer slapped a second serve for a winner to deuce. A half volley service return gave him the break point, which he sealed to lead 5-2 even after an unsuccessful challenge by Johnson.

Federer did not concede a point on serve to win the first set 6 – 2.

In the second set, Federer led 2-1. Johnson lost the first point on his serve, but delivered a service winner to level 15-all. Next, Federer hit a drop volley that caught Johnson askance. Then, both players exchanged a barrage of hard drives that ended with a drop shot by Johnson. He served and volleyed a winner to reach game point, but it was deuced when a net-cord ball sailed out. Serving at advantage to the receiver, Johnson hit an approach shot deep to the baseline and Roger drilled the ball straight back at him for a volley error and the break. Federer extended the lead to 4-1 by winning his service at love.

Johnson braced up in the sixth game. He served an ace, then two back-to-back service winners to reach 40-0. A drop service return by Federer saved one of the game points but Johnson handed down another ace to win for 2-4. The remaining games in the set were taken easily by the server, in short rallies. A service return from Johnson ailed long at set point. Federer was up two sets.

The opening game of the third set was long. Johnson lost the first point on his serve when he hit a forehand over the line. However, he followed up with a service winner, an ace, a powerful serve down the middle line and he was at game point 40-30. Federer fought to deuce and had the first advantage for a break, but denied when a shot from Johnson did not rise up from the grass turf close to the net. The serve proceeded to win the game on his first opportunity.

Federer leveled on his serve. In the third game, Johnson wrong-footed Federer, to lead 30-love and held on to win for 2-1 lead. In the fourth game, a crosscourt pass gave Johnson two break points at 15-40. This was the similar situation in the first set. This time around, he hit a great forehand winner to clinch the break for a 3 – 1 lead. A battle seemed in the offing.

Although he led in the fifth game, he was broken and Federer held his service game to level three-all. Johnson took the first point of the crucial seventh game in which e had a mild drama. Johnson chased down a drop shot by Federer and slipped as he lifted the ball to a waiting Federer who nevertheless missed the volley. The American won for a 4-3 lead.

The two players held serve easily. At five-all, Johnson fell behind on his serve. At 15-30, he sent Federer wide to the backhand side and a passing shot was within Johnson’s reach to simply hit into an empty court but he left it and it landed on the sideline. He challenged the call but it was confirmed in.

That placed him in a precarious situation 15-40 and cost him the game.

Serving for the set, Federer took the first point, and then he sent his opponent from side to side to reach 40-15. He delivered a serve that missed the line slightly. On the second serve, he sent a spin serve down the middle and it was beyond the reach of his opponent’s backhand. He was through to the quarterfinals where he would face Marin Cilic, whose opponent, Kei Nishikori, retired due to injury.

Ever gracious in victory, Federer waited for Johnson for the two to walk together off the court, on America’s Independence Day.
PJA.

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