LAST UPDATE | 1 Jul 2021
ROGER FEDERER FOUND his form on the lawns of SW19 to comfortably defeat Richard Gasquet and set up a third-round clash with Britain’s Cameron Norrie.
This was a throwback match, with the pair having first met at Wimbledon 15 years ago, and, although this was not quite vintage Federer, it was certainly a great improvement on his performance against Adrian Mannarino in round one.
The eight-time champion had been two sets to one down when his French opponent slipped and suffered a knee injury that forced him to retire.
The knowledge that he had beaten Gasquet in 18 of their 20 previous meetings, including the last 11, no doubt gave him a little extra confidence and, after coming through a close first set, Federer pulled away to win 7-6 (1) 6-1 6-4.
The 39-year-old had at least been fighting back when Mannarino had his unfortunate fall. He was shaky again at the start here, saving three break points in his opening service game.
But Federer began to show more conviction in his shots as the set wore on and played a fine tie-break, ending a run of four straight tie-breaks lost at Wimbledon taking in one against Mannarino and three in the 2019 final versus Novak Djokovic.
The Swiss relies on impeccable footwork and timing for his aggressive game, and it is no surprise that has not come back immediately following his lengthy absence, in which he had two knee operations.
The second set saw Federer in total control, and a break of his old rival’s serve in the seventh game of the third set paved the way for a dominant victory.
Gasquet tried to challenge an ace on match point only to be told he had used all his up, which rather summed up his evening.
Elsewhere, Nick Kyrgios roared through with a three-set victory over Italian Gianluca Mager.
The volatile Australian hammered down 29 aces, including one with a furious second serve after being foot-faulted, on his way to a 7-6 (7) 6-4 6-4 win.
Kyrgios set up a mouth-watering clash with Canadian youngster Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Big-hitters Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev booked their places in the third round in comprehensive style.
Second seed Medvedev, who has never been past round three, raced through with a straight-sets victory over Carlos Alcaraz.
Spanish wild card Alcaraz, a rising star who has climbed from 492 in the world to 75 in the space of 18 months, was broken in the first game but hit back for 5-4, only to surrender his serve once again.
Russian Medvedev then sped away from the 18-year-old to complete a routine 6-4 6-1 6-2 victory.
The match lasted just over an hour and a half, and Medvedev said: “The faster you go on grass, the better.
“I love grass. In my first four grand slams I had only one victory and it was here so Wimbledon will always be special to me.”
Fourth seed Zverev made light work of Tennys Sandgren – who struggled to prevent tennis balls slipping from his pockets.
During a light-hearted encounter on Court Two a ball fell loose twice, costing him a point the second time.
German Zverev, who won 7-5 6-2 6-3, said: “It’s an unfortunate way to lose points. The second time I stopped, the ball was right at his feet.
“I couldn’t have continued playing because it would have been dangerous for him. It’s an odd way to win a point, but unfortunately it happens.
“Maybe he needs to talk to his clothing provider and ask for some deeper pockets!”
Zverev will face Taylor Fritz, who came through a five setter against fellow American Steve Johnson having undergone knee surgery just last month.
“I’m very surprised that he’s actually playing here and I’m very surprised how well he’s playing,” added Zverev.
“I have to give credit to him for coming back this quickly.”
Queen’s Club winner Matteo Berrettini, seeded seventh, continues to impress on the grass, the Italian beating Dutch lucky loser Botic Van De Zandschulp 6-3 6-4 7-6 (4).
French 13th seed Gael Monfils lost in four sets to Pedro Martinez of Spain and former semi-finalist Grigor Dimitrov was beaten 6-4 7-6 (6) 7-6 (4) by Alexander Bublik.
Defo one of the true gentlemen left in the game he is a class act on and off field
@43 major trophies:
Yes.Fantastic gesture.One of the good guys.
Nice to see a footballer that still has his feet on the ground well done
@mark kenny: Agreed that it’s a nice gesture but footballers on massive wages should be in a position to give more. Even a guy on €500 per week, whatever his profession, could easily afford to donate €5 to charity. The per centage of wages donated should be left for each individual player to decide. I’m sure 1% of Neymar’s wages would be a tidy sum.
Defiantly a nice gesture.. But it won’t changing the world that’s for sure.. But the message will surely resonate. If only every professional footballler done this every year or every so often.. Doubt they’ll miss or need that 1% of their wages.
@Acedeuce: 1% of 1million is 10Gs and I’d imagine he’s on a hell of a lot more than that year.Imagine how far that would go in places like Mumbai
@Jamie: you’d definitely go far with that money in India.. Anyone with a decent wage in Ireland would get on well India as long as you don’t mind watching very rich people mix and completely ignore child poverty, rape, child trafficking, disease and plenty more.. But other than that you’d live like a king
@Acedeuce: what are you on about?who said anything about living there?i just pointed out that the 1% he donates would change a lot of people’s worlds who live in poor countries.Stop being a grump
@Acedeuce: maybe thats what he means? To provoke every top earner to do the same?
And i do think that most alreay donate quite a lot.
@Jamie: you said how far 10gs would go in India.. You didn’t say how far 10g would go for people in dire poverty .. But yeah it would do plenty. But I’d have to hand the money over to personally, nobody in there right mind would trust the Indian government.. They’re able to spend billions on space programmes and send stuff into space but yet can’t feed their own people..
@Acedeuce: did you even read the article as to why I referenced Mumbai as an example?
One of the few good guys left in a sick environment after the way the game has gone
@ClydaMan: have a pint and cheer up ffs
What a nice guy , if every footballer did this I’d have more respect for them. 1% is nothing to these lads but what a great gesture fair play to him, hopefully more follow
Even when he scores a screamer against your club he’s the kind of player you couldn’t dislike. Fair play to him.
Haven’t non-profit organisation FIFA got over a BILLION dollars on deposit in Switzerland? Surely they can take care of grass roots football. Fair play to Mata, but why not help world poverty in a more general sense…
@Fionn Falcao: they are a registered charity believe it or not, one that makes money from getting countries to bid to host a world cup then also get the winning country to pay for brand new stadiums for said world cup while whipping up the majority of the profit!!
@Fionn Falcao: FIFA have given millions to streetfootballworld, the NGO running this charity.
@John Buckley: I should hope so John. Considering they have over USD$1,000,000,000 held in reserve
@Fionn Falcao: so you agree. They have done good? What’s with your one sided post earlier so?
Class act senor mata. Love it.
You won’t change the world but you will change alot of lives. Fair play
Nice one Juan
The guy is pure class
Should call it the “Juan percent” scheme
You wouldn’t see Sturridge make a statement like this. Class from Mata.
@Matt Taylor: why single one player out?
@Matt Taylor: Sturridge has set up a charity in his own name. Most footballers are generous enough but like above very unfair to single out individuals
@Matt Taylor: ahh sorry. You had another post in a different article where i thought you were making a point, scrolling down to this article it just seems you’re a knob
Sure 1% is nothing. I’m giving nearly 60% of everything i earn to a group with severe learning difficulties who can’t tell left from right not to mind wrong from right and are really just an advertisement for repealing the 8th.
@Ruairi O’Bric: that was probably funnier in your head
Team rivalries aside.. as football fans i think we can all agree that Mata’s a proper lad
I think the two line dancers could take a close look at how a real pro does it.
Could change it ten times over if he gave 10%! However. Still generous compared to many of us.
@Michael Ahern: There it is. Took a while.
@Michael Ahern: And he could change even more lives if he donated 50% of his wages Michael. You just couldn’t leave it at that could you,had to get the dig in.
@An Observer: I was going to write a big long paragraph on why he’s being an idiot but that’s fairly obvious why. It’s all relative Michael so are you donating 1%.. or 10%?
@Michael Ahern: yeah he earns a lot and 1% is nothing in the grand scheme of things. What is something is that he also gives to other charities in a more meaningful way. He also has a family immediate and maybe extended that he provides for, plus a footballer was protect themselves financially for their future after football. How many players just disappear into obscurity after there career ends?