Roger Federer and Kevin Anderson will be going head-to-head for the fifth time in their careers when they battle for a place in the Wimbledon semifinals on Wednesday.
All four of their previous encounters have gone the way of Federer, who is 8-0 in total sets against Anderson and has never even been pushed to a tiebreaker. The two veterans have not faced each other since 2015, when the Swiss prevailed 6-3, 7-5 on the red clay of Rome and 6-1, 6-1 on the hard courts of Cincinnati.
It is no surprise that they are finally meeting again in this setting, the quarterfinals a the All-England Club. Federer, of course, is an eight-time champion of Wimbledon with a 96-11 lifetime record. The current world No. 2 did drop a single set en route to last year’s title and he has not come close to doing so this fortnight. Federer punched his ticket to the last eight by soundly defeating Dusan Lajovic, Lukas Lacko, Jan-Lennard Struff, and Adrian Mannarino.
Anderson is an all-court player whose best Grand Slam result has come at the U.S. Open (2017 runner-up), but he is perhaps most dangerous on grass. This marks the eighth-ranked South African’s fourth appearance in the Wimbledon second week (all in the last five years) and first trip to the quarterfinals. Anderson, who is a stellar 27-10 this season, has not lost at Wimbledon in less than five sets since 2014–to Andy Murray in the fourth round.
“One of my many goals was to try to get a personal-best achievement here,” Anderson commented. “(I have) lost in the round of 16 a few times…. I can definitely feel good about making it through to the last eight here for the first time.
“I am really looking forward to [the quarterfinal against Federer]. Obviously it will be a tough challenge. I think it’s a pretty exciting opportunity to play Federer here at Wimbledon.”
It may be a memorable moment for the underdog, but it probably won’t be fun while it is actually in progress. Federer has been absolutely trouncing people and he has always been known to raise his level even higher in the latter stages of big tournaments when the competition level ratchets up–which it does in the form of Anderson. A couple of sets could be competitive because of Anderson’s serving prowess, but the 36-year-old should not have too much trouble improving to 5-0 in this matchup.
Pick: Federer in 3 with at least one tiebreaker
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who ya got?
No doubt Fed to final losing to Rafa
plenty of doubt in that prediction
As I often point out, Ricky, a lot of people seem to confuse “prediction” with “what I want to happen”!
And then if what they want to happen ends up happening, they can say “See! I knew it would happen!” 😂
Kevin, it’s just prediction right? Why so serious? How many people can get every of their predictions right?
Fed will beat Rafa if they meet similar to the defeat at FO he had in 2008: 6-1;6-3;6-0 – similar thrashing in straight sets by Fed or maximum 4 mostly to finish before the WC football starts
More like wishful thinking! Even if Fed is to beat Rafa, it won’t be that kind of scoreline, you’re probably still hurting from that beating Fed had under the hands of Rafa.
Fed in 3.
No TBs
Yes….GOAT in the Final…again, and he will beat Rafa.
You’re so sure it’s Rafa in the final??
Interesting. The top half (Fed’s) quarterfinals are scheduled for Court 1 while Rafa’s half is on Center Court.
I thought they will put Fed first and Rafa second at CC; and Isner and then Djoko in Court 1. They probably want both courts to be filled; they scheduled Fed and Rafa at different timing too on two different courts.
Fed over Anderson with at least one tb.
Federer is playing so much than Anderson, and is 8-0 in sets and has not reached a tiebreak with him
Federer in 3 with NO tiebreaks.
Yeah, really! Fed looks very ordinary today!
And there was a tb!
Fed-Anderson has been scheduled for Court 1, with Djokovic-Nishikori for CC. (Nadal-Delpo also on CC, but that makes sense). It happened because Novak complained.
I wonder what all the conspiracy-minded folks who think Fed always gets special treatment have to say?
Djokovic may be on CC but the BBC is showing Fed’s match on the main screen. Exactly what I suspected would happen.
naturally
Fed breaks in the first game. It’s over.
Is men’s tennis the Roger Federer Benefit Society? It’s too much. Let other players get a look-in.
It’s 2-0 in just 5 mins
And Kei falters against Novak as well. We might not even see any contests…
First set 6-2 in 27 mins.
Finally Fed gets broken first time in this wimby.
Federer’s serves are really his get out of jail card!!!
And Fed does not seem crisp in this match! Novak does not seem crisp either!
Playing a tiebreak at Wimbledon against a massive server is pretty much the worst thing for anyone, including the Big 4!
Oh my god, Fed had him! Serving at 6-3 and he lost both points!
Of course it was still #NID lol.
Big Kev just saved a few match point to hold. Turning point???……… Ok, bad joke. 😛