LONDON – World No 1 Ashleigh Barty and Roger Federer moved into the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament.
Barty dispatched Katerina Siniakova at Wimbledon, fending off an opponent who would have fancied her chances after dropping serve just once in the last two rounds and with six career wins against top-10 opponents.
The world number one prevailed 6-3 7-5 on Centre Court to reach the last 16 after Czech Siniakova posed a resolute challenge while failing to find answers to the Australian’s immaculate sliced returns and spin in their first meeting.
“Certainly wasn’t going smoothly. I think it was a hell of a match right from the first point,” Barty said in her on-court interview according to Reuters. “Katerina brought an incredible level and it was a lot of fun playing out here.
“I knew I had to play very near my best to be able to compete with her today so I’m happy to be able to play some good stuff.”
“I’m very privileged to be in the second week of Wimbledon again. This is genuinely one of my favourite weeks of the year so to be prolonging my stay is a lot of fun but I’m looking forward to the challenge.
“Barbora’s been playing some incredible stuff recently. I’ve never played her before, so it’s going to be a new one.”
Siniakova won the doubles title with Krejcikova at the All England Club in 2018 – the Czech pair also won the French Open last month – but is no pushover when it comes to singles.
Federer beats Norrie
Federer moved into the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament for the 69th time, overcoming a raucous home crowd and the last British man in the draw Cameron Norrie in an entertaining 6-4, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 win at Wimbledon.
Federer kept his dream alive of a record-extending ninth singles title.
Hopes that the 29th seed could stop Federer’s pursuit of a men’s record ninth All England Club title reached fever pitch after 338th-ranked British wildcard Emma Raducanu had defied the odds to reach the last 16 moments before Norrie walked onto Centre Court for his showdown with the Swiss supremo.
The fact that Federer had barely played in 18 months and was still in the tournament after his lucky escape against Adrian Mannarino in the first round, with the injured Frenchman quitting when the match was at two sets all, also raised hopes of an upset win for the last British man left in the singles draw.
But Federer, with his surgically patched-up knees and his 39-year-old battle-hardened body, showed that he is prepared to take as many knocks as it takes to keep alive his dreams of once again holding aloft the pineapple-topped Challenge Cup.
“Super relieved. It was a tough battle and it was so close. I’m playing at a high level now and things are going well for me,” a beaming Federer told the crowd after making it into the second week at the All England Club for the 18th time.
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