• Wimbledon, Day Six

Federer fends off Nalbandian as Soderling crashes out

ESPN staff
June 25, 2011
Roger Federer remains on course for a seventh Wimbledon title © Getty Images
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Roger Federer brushed off the challenge of David Nalbandian to remain on course for a seventh Wimbledon title.

The world No. 3 held off a determined Nalbandian to claim a 6-4 6-2 6-4 victory on Centre Court to reach the second week for an eighth consecutive year.

Federer has looked in fine form in his opening two matches, and the Swiss fired an early signal of intent, snatching an early break to edge ahead. However, after facing an almighty fight to hold his ensuing service game, Federer was broken in the sixth game as Nalbandian battled back to level.

But the six-time champion struck back immediately, and held on to clinch the opening set, before securing an early break in the second to put himself firmly in control. Nalbandian received treatment on a groin injury in the interval, but there was no letting up from Federer, who penetrated the Argentinian's serve once again to stroll through the second set.

Despite his injury restricting Nalbandian's mobility, the world No. 23 continued to battle hard, but Federer's pressure was relentless as he broke for a 5-4 lead in the final set. Serving for the match, Federer squandered three match points, but clinched the victory in an hour and 46 minutes to set up a fourth-round clash with Russia's Mikhail Youzhny, who came from a set down to beat Spaniard Nicolas Almagro 4-6 6-3 7-6(3) 6-3.

While Federer eased into the last-16, Novak Djokovic survived a real scare as he moved into the fourth round with a 6-4 4-6 6-3 6-4 victory over Marcos Baghdatis. The world No. 2, who has been in imperious form in 2011, appeared to lose his focus in the second set, but the Australian Open champion rallied to avoid an upset in a thrilling match on Centre Court. The second seed will face Michael Llodra in round four after the Frenchman got the better of Yen-Hsun Lu in straight sets.

Fifth seed Robin Soderling was dumped out of the draw by Australian teenager Bernard Tomic, who reached the fourth round of a grand slam for the first time in his career. Soderling received attention from the doctor after complaining of dizziness, but the 18-year-old pulled off the biggest upset of his career to claim a 6-1 6-4 7-5 victory.

Tomic, who is set to overtake Lleyton Hewitt as the Australian No. 1, will be eyeing a spot in the quarter-finals after learning he will face the unseeded Belgian Xavier Malisse. Malisse, however, is a classy grass-courter and a former Wimbledon semi-finalist, and the 30-year-old dispatched No. 11 seed Jurgen Melzer 7-6(5) 6-3 6-0.

Rafael Nadal was stretched by Gilles Muller in the opening two sets © Getty Images
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Top seed Rafael Nadal faced a major test of his patience as he booked his place in the fourth round with a straight sets win over Gilles Muller. World No. 92 Muller is one of only three men who can boast a victory over the Spaniard at Wimbledon, and he made the world No. 1 work hard for his 7-6(6) 7-6(5) 6-0 victory.

Nadal was unable to find a way to break Muller's serve until the third set, but when he finally cracked it, he reeled off six games to race through the final set.

The defending champion will face another major test in the fourth round, where he will meet former world No. 4 Juan Martin del Potro, who dug deep to claim a 7-6(8) 7-6(5) 7-5 victory over No. 15 seed Gilles Simon.

Another Frenchman joined Simon in exiting at the fourth-round stage - ninth seed Gael Monfils was upset by doubles specialist Lukas Kubot, which opens up Andy Murray's path to the semi-finals. World No. 93 Kubot claimed a 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-3 victory, and will now meet Andy Roddick's conqueror Feliciano Lopez in the fourth round, with the winner set to meet Murray or Richard Gasquet in the quarter-finals.

Sixth seed Tomas Berdych wasted little time in booking his place in the last-16. Last year's finalist was leading 6-2 6-4 4-3 when rain suspended play on Friday evening. However, the Czech returned to the court and promptly polished off the two remaining games. Next up for Berdych is American Mardy Fish, who was leading Robin Haase 6-3 6-7 6-2 1-1 when the Dutchman retired with a knee injury.

David Ferrer set up an intriguing fourth-round clash with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the last-16 after the Spaniard overcame Karol Beck 6-4 6-3 6-3. Tsonga, meanwhile, won his match against Chilean Fernando Gonzalez with an almost identical scoreline - 6-3 6-4 6-3.

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