LONDON: Six-time champion Roger Federer reached the Wimbledon third round on Wednesday with a 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 win over Italy’s Fabio Fognini, a performance witnessed by Britain’s Prince Charles.
The third-seeded Swiss took just 74 minutes to defeat Fognini, who received a quick lesson in bowing from Federer before they walked onto Centre Court where Charles, on a first visit to the Club in more than 40 years, was watching with his wife Camilla.
Federer fired 13 aces and 35 winners in his rapid victory and has lost just nine games in his first two rounds.
“I’m very happy to have won and to be back on Centre Court. It’s great to have that feeling and to see Charles and Camilla up there is just great for tennis,” said Federer.
He said he felt no ill-effects from falling to the ground in the third set whe he lost his footing, adding he was happy with his form.
“I’m serving well, my forehand and backhand are working well and it’s great to win so comfortably.”
Defending champion Novak Djokovic was slated to play his second round match after going to press.
Late on Tuesday night, home hopeful Andy Murray easily overcame Nikolay Davydenko – who doesn’t favour grass – 6-1, 6-4, 6-1.
Stosur nightmare
US Open champion Samantha Stosur suffered another Wimbledon nightmare as the fifth seed crashed out in the second round, meaning there are no Australians left in either the men’s or women’s singles.
Stosur, 28, had never been past the third round in nine previous visits to the All England Club and that miserable sequence was extended with a 6-2, 0-6, 6-4 defeat against Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands.
7-second victory
Italy’s 10th seed Sara Errani, the French Open runner-up, needed just seven seconds to complete her first round win over American Coco Vandeweghe after the tie was rained off on Tuesday.
Errani was on match point, but her opponent double faulted and she won 6-1, 6-3. Both ladies were in fits of giggles as they shook hands at the net.
Ivanovic triumphs
Ana Ivanovic had to battle a lack of concentration to advance to the third round with a victory over Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. Ivanovic took the first set confidently, but was bothered by a line call that she felt was wrong in the second and quickly lost the set. The 14th seed refused to roll over, however, and fought back well against her Spanish opponent, who is never easy to beat.
There was an epic encounter on Wednesday between Florian Mayer and Philipp Petzschner, with the former coming back from two sets to love down to beat his German compatriot 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4.
Wozniacki falls
Rain played spoilsport on Wednesday, interrupting every match bar the Caroline Wozniacki-Tamira Paszek match on Centre, under its retractable roof. After taking the first set 7-5, Paszek, who won last week at Eastbourne, fought back to take the second into a tie-break, which she won. Both players fought hard in the decider before Paszek prevailed 6-4. (Agencies)