Andy Murray might have put away the biggest puncher in town but he is on a collision course with a smaller man who simply does not miss. Roger Federer, it would seem, has found a knockout serve to go with those dancing feet.
It is a staggering reality that Federer, a potential opponent for Murray in the semi-finals, is the only player in either the men’s or the ladies’ draws who has gone through the tournament without dropping serve.
That has amounted to 58 games in these Championships, which included last night’s demolition of Roberto Bautista Agut 6-2, 6-2, 6-3. Going back further to the grass court tournament in Halle last month, which Federer won, it is now 106 games since anyone got the better of his delivery.
Those are remarkable numbers, supported by the fact only two break points have been held against the Swiss since he arrived at Wimbledon. Too bad for Agut that neither were earned by him; too bad for the rest of the field that the other facets of Federer’s game are not too shabby either.
Aged 33 and in pursuit of his eighth Wimbledon title, he arrives in the quarter-final at tremendous speed. Next up is Gilles Simon, the 12th seed who upset Tomas Berdych, but in this form and with such weapons, it is increasingly hard to see Federer failing to keep his part of the Murray bargain.
‘My serve looks good because the guys are returning terribly,’ he joked.
‘I have got things figured out at the moment. Clearly having the extra week helped me be perfectly prepared for Wimbledon.
‘But then again, I look at my next‑round opponent. Gilles Simon is one of the best return players we have in the game. I would think I'll be tested a lot. So that streak's maybe coming to an end, in my opinion.’
