Roger Federer continued his 2014 Wimbledon campaign with a fourth-round match against Tommy Robredo on Tuesday.
Robredo beat the Swiss in the US Open earlier this year, but Federer had no such trouble on grass.
The encounter lasted just one hour and 34 minutes, with the seven-time Wimbledon champion coming through 6-1 6-4 6-4.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's game-by-game live commentary of the action below.
Afternoon all! Sports Mole's Wimbledon coverage continues as former world number one Roger Federer tackles the tricky Spaniard Tommy Robredo in the fourth round. The two players have met on 11 occasions, with Federer winning 10 times. However, Robredo did beat the Swiss in the US Open earlier this year. It promises to be a difficult affair for the seven-time Wimbledon champion.
Fourth-seed Federer has not yet dropped a set in this year's Wimbledon, comfortably beating Italian Paolo Lorenzi in the first round, before breezing past Gilles Muller in the second. The Colombian Santiago Giraldo had been expected to provide a serious test in the last round, but Federer once more came through in three sets to book his spot in round four.
Robredo, meanwhile, who is currently ranked at number 22 in the world, overcame Lukas Lacko in four sets in the first round to set up a clash with Adrian Mannarino. The Spaniard found his second-round match more comfortable than the first and advanced in three sets. Robredo faced a real battle against Jerzy Janowicz last time out however, narrowly beating the Pole in five sets.
At the moment, the weather is looking pretty good. Blue sky and very few clouds, which of course means I have just cursed it and rain will soon arrive. Both players are due on court shortly.
Here we go then. Both players have indeed emerged onto Court One. This is the first time Federer and Robredo will have faced each other on grass. The two veterans first met each other way back in 2002.
Federer wins the toss and decides to serve first...
Barcelona-born Robredo has some pretty snazzy sunglasses on for the knock-up. Ever the fashion icon. Can the Spaniard record his second win of the year over Federer? Or will the Swiss advance into the next round?
Here we go then. The umpire calls time and Federer will serve first on this beautiful afternoon in London. Let's hope for a real cracker. My prediction is Federer in four sets.
Confident start from Federer as the Swiss comes to the net to fire past Robredo, before Robredo fires long for 30-0. A sweeping forehand then makes it 40-0, before Fed holds with another forehand. Well, that did not take long.
BREAK! The first point goes to Federer as Robredo fires long, before a double-fault from the Spaniard makes it 0-30. Fed then sets up three break points with a wonderful forehand, but fires the first and second of those beyond the baseline. Deuce then arrives when Federer nets, before the Swiss moves onto advantage when Robredo fires long. Federer secures the break when Robredo fires long once more.
Federer continues his impressive start with an ace to move 15-0 ahead, before Robredo fires long for 30-0. Another wonderful serve makes it 40-0 and the Swiss holds when Robredo nets. Incredible start from Federer.
Robredo registers his first ace of the match to move 15-0 ahead, but the Spaniard then smashes just wide of the line following a wonderful lob from Federer. Another powerful serve allows Robredo to regain the lead in the game, before Federer drops one wide for 40-15. Robredo secures his first hold when Federer nets.
Federer registers another ace to move 15-0 ahead, before Robredo fires wide for 30-0. A fine pass from Robredo moves the Spaniard onto the board at 30-15, before Fed nets for 30-30. Another ace - following a challenge - moves the Swiss 40-30 ahead and he holds when Robredo nets once more. Brilliant serving from Fed thus far.
BREAK! Perfect start for Federer as he moves 0-15 ahead when Robredo fires a forehand long, but the Swiss then hits the net for 15-15. Robredo follows suit in the next point for 15-30, but Federer then whips a forehand just wide for 30-30. The Swiss sets up break point with a powerful volley, but then fires long for deuce. Eventually Federer secures the break when Robredo nets twice in quick succession.
SET! Another ace moves Federer 15-0 ahead, before he whips a forehand past his opponent for 30-0. Robredo then nets for 40-0, but the Spaniard does get onto the board with a slight miss-hit. Federer recovers to take the first set, however, with another brilliant backhand. That took just 22 minutes. Wow!
Good grief. Robredo has really struggled, but that takes nothing away from the performance of Federer, who hit four aces in the first set and registered 10 winners. Incredible tennis from the Swiss.
BREAK! Again it is a poor start to the game from Robredo as the Spaniard fires long for 0-15, before clipping just wide for 0-30. Another shot hits the net for 0-40 and Federer breaks following a slice from Robredo.
Robredo continues to struggle as Federer's first serve proves difficult to handle, before the Spaniard fires long for 30-0. Robredo then fails to return once more for 40-0 and the Swiss holds with another ace.
Another bad start from Robredo as the Spaniard nets for 0-15, but he then whips a forehand past Federer for his first point in 11. Robredo then moves 30-15 ahead with a powerful serve, before an ace makes it 40-15. Federer responds with a volley to move onto 30-40, but Robredo holds when the Swiss nets.
Strong start from Federer as the Swiss moves 15-0 ahead when Robredo fires long, before the Spaniard slices out for 30-0. Robredo can then only net for 40-0 Federer and the Swiss holds when Robredo puts a forehand wide.
Again Federer takes the first point on the Robredo serve as the Spaniard nets for 0-15, but a brilliant forehand from Robredo then levels the score at 15-15. Federer fires the next point long for 30-15, before following suit in the next for 40-15. A stunning backhand from Federer makes it 30-40, before deuce arrives after another sweeping Federer forehand. Robredo then misses a straight-forward smash to hand Federer advantage, but recovers after coming to the net. Federer misses a lob for deuce three and eventually Robredo holds when the Swiss fires long.
Perfect start from Federer as he rattles off another powerful serve for 15-0, before moving 30-0 ahead with a delicate shot at the net. Another ace makes it 40-0 and the Swiss holds with another volley at the net.
Positive start from Robredo as the Spaniard moves 15-0 ahead when Federer fails to return a serve, before the Swiss fires wide for 30-0. Fed does move onto the board, however, when his Spanish opponent fires a forehand wide. Federer then hits long for 40-15 and Robredo secures the hold with a fine shot at the net.
Federer breezes into a 30-0 lead following a brilliant net shot and another ace, before 40-0 arrives following a powerful forehand. Federer holds when Robredo is unable to return a backhand.
The best rally of the match arrives in the first point, with Robredo coming out on top with a brilliant forehand. The Spaniard then nets, however, for 15-15. Federer then fires wide for 30-15, before following suit in the next point to hand Robredo 40-15. Federer responds once more with a fine passing shot, but the Swiss then fires wide as Robredo holds.
SET! Strong start from Federer as the Swiss moves 15-0 ahead when Robredo fires long, before a brilliant passing forehand makes it 30-0. Another stunning volley at the net makes it 40-0 and Federer takes the second set when Robredo's return drops past the baseline. Incredible from Federer.
Better from Robredo, but he still cannot get anywhere near Federer, who hit 15 winners in that second set. It is almost impossible to see Robredo recovering from this position.
Federer moves 0-15 ahead when Robredo fires a powerful forehand long of the baseline, but the Spaniard returns with a fine passing shot to level the score at 15-15. Federer then comes to the net once more for 15-30, but 30-30 arrives when the Swiss nets. Federer again comes to the net in the next point for 30-40, but deuce arrives following a brilliant Robredo forehand. The Spaniard eventually holds with a fine passing shot.
Confident start from Robredo as the Spaniard whips a backhand past Federer for 0-15, but Federer responds with another sensational serve. Robredo attempts another pass in the next moment, but misses as Federer moves 30-15 ahead. Robredo takes the next point for 30-30, before both players exchange points for deuce. Eventually Federer holds with another ace.
Federer nets twice in quick succession to hand Robredo 30-0, before the Spaniard comes to the net for 40-0. A miss-hit allows Federer onto the board, before Robredo fires long for 30-40. Eventually Robredo holds when Federer nets.
An error of judgement from Federer allows Robredo to move 0-15 ahead in the fifth game of the third set, but a smash from the former world number one then levels the score at 15-15. Another Federer ace makes it 30-15, before Robredo nets for 40-15. Robredo gains his second point of the game when Federer nets, but the Swiss holds when Robredo fires wide.
Confident start from Robredo as he moves 15-0 ahead with a powerful serve, before Federer fires long for 30-0. A sensational forehand pass from the Swiss, however, moves the score onto 15-30. Federer then whips a forehand past his fellow 32-year-old for 30-30, but Robredo holds when Federer hits another pass wide of the baseline.
Another brilliant pass from Federer moves the Swiss 15-0 ahead and that quickly becomes 30-0 following another ace. A passing shot at the net makes it 40-0 and Federer holds with a sensational drop-shot.
BREAK! Federer takes the first point of the game as Robredo whips a forehand past the baseline, but Robredo moves level at 15-15 with a powerful serve. Robredo then drops one just wide for 15-30, before Federer moves 15-40 ahead following another error from the Spaniard However, two brilliant serves from Robredo leave the score at deuce. Robredo then miss-hits one just wide, before Federer puts one in the corner to secure the break.
Another ace from Federer moves the Swiss 15-0 ahead, before Robredo nets for 30-0. Federer comes to the net once more to move 40-0 ahead and secures the hold when Robredo nets once more.
Confident start from Robredo as the Spaniard rattles off an ace to move 15-0 ahead, before Federer fires long for 30-0. Robredo can then only hit the net for 30-15, but the Swiss then fires long for 40-15. Robredo secures the hold when Federer nets.
GAME, SET AND MATCH! A brilliant backhand drops just onto the line as Federer moves 15-0 ahead, before Robredo fires long for 30-0. Robredo then recovers with a brilliant forehand of his own for 30-15, before Federer nets for 30-30. The Swiss then hits one long to hand Robredo break point, but recovers for deuce after coming to the net. Another powerful serve hands Federer advantage, but he then nets for deuce two. Federer's second advantage occurs following another powerful serve, but once more Robredo responds at the net. Eventually Federer closes out the match when Robredo nets from close range.
So there we have it. Federer books his spot in the quarter-finals with a comfortable three-set win over Robredo, who was never really allowed to find his best form. Federer could face countryman Wawrinka in the last eight of the competition.
That is just about it from me this afternoon. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action. Until next time!
