Friday, May 29, 2015

Roger Federer eases past Damir Dzumhur to reach French Open fourth round

Roger Federer suggested he could play on for another five years after the Swiss eased into the French Open last 16 with a straight-sets win over Damir Dzumhur.


It is the 11th consecutive year that Federer has made it past the third round at Roland Garros and the number two seed was untroubled as he won 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.


The 33-year-old last lifted a major trophy at Wimbledon in 2012 but he has been in good form this season and is yet to drop a set in Paris.
Roger Federer plays a backhand shot during his win against Damir Dzumhur in the French Open third round
Roger Federer plays a backhand shot during his win against Damir Dzumhur in the French Open third round
Federer slides on the clay to return a shot during his 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 victory against Dzumhur on Friday
Federer slides on the clay to return a shot during his 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 victory against Dzumhur on Friday
Federer and Dzumhur shake hands after the Swiss star's convincing victory in the third round
Federer and Dzumhur shake hands after the Swiss star's convincing victory in the third round
'Would winning a grand slam make me play longer? Possibly,' Federer said. 'I may stop the following day or I may go on for another five years, I don't know.

'What I can tell you is that if I win Wimbledon or another grand slam, I'll be extremely happy so it won't make a difference.'

Federer will now face either France's Gael Monfils or Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas, who play later on Friday, and the 17-time grand slam champion will take confidence from an accomplished third-round performance.

'My own game was good,' Federer said. 'It took me a little bit of time to get into it, to understand how is he serving, plus he was serving a few of the lines in the beginning.
Dzumhur keeps his eyes on the ball as he prepares to play a one-handed backhand towards Federer
Dzumhur keeps his eyes on the ball as he prepares to play a one-handed backhand towards Federer
Federer is looking to win his second French Open title after victory at Roland Garros in 2009
Federer is looking to win his second French Open title after victory at Roland Garros in 2009
Federer will face either Frenchman Gael Monfils or Uruguay's Pablo Cuevas for a quarter-final place
Federer will face either Frenchman Gael Monfils or Uruguay's Pablo Cuevas for a quarter-final place
'And then the wind was playing quite a big factor today early on, which made me mishit a few shots.

'Then once I got the rhythm it got better and better, and I was able to play more freely and mix up the game.'

Dzumhur, who is the highest-ranked player ever from Bosnia and Herzegovina, said it was a privilege to play against Federer, whom he used to idolise when he was growing up.

'I was warming up and I was still not believing that I'm playing Roger Federer, I was feeling so strange, like I was dreaming,' Dzumhur said.
Despite being 10 years younger than Federer, Dzumhur was powerless to stop the Swiss star progressing
Despite being 10 years younger than Federer, Dzumhur was powerless to stop the Swiss star progressing
Dzumhur and Federer make their way off the court after the latter's  win on day six of the French Open
Dzumhur and Federer make their way off the court after the latter's win on day six of the French Open
'People from Bosnia told me that today everybody was in cafes or in their homes, nobody in the streets, they were watching me.

'I am playing just the third round of a grand slam, but for Bosnia, it's like our football team playing in the finals of the Champions League, it's like that.'

Joining Federer in the last 16 is Swiss compatriot Stan Wawrinka, who cruised past American Steve Johnson 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.

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