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Federer, Murray into Wimbledon quarters

(The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Images )
10th July, 2017
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Roger Federer has become the most prolific men’s quarter-finalist in Wimbledon history with a brutal straight-sets dispatch of Grigor Dimitrov.

The seven-times champion and 10-times finalist needed less than 90 minutes to join top-seeded titleholder Andy Murray in the last eight with an ominous 6-4 6-2 6-4 fourth-round triumph.

Federer and 13th-seeded Dimitrov were junior champions a decade apart at the All England Club, but the Swiss master was light years ahead in class on Monday.

He committed just 11 unforced errors and dropped serve only once in swatting aside the Bulgarian for the sixth time in as many meetings.

“It’s very special. I’m very happy,” Federer said.

He next faces either sixth seed Milos Raonic – the Canadian who ousted the 18-times grand slam champion in last year’s semi-finals – or rising German 10th seed Alexander Zverev on Wednesday.

Murray earlier saw off Frenchman Benoit Paire in straight sets to qualify for his 10th consecutive quarter-final at The All England Club.

Britain’s two-time champion recovered from a service break down in the opening set to advance 7-6 (7-1) 6-4 6-4.

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Murray will play Sam Querrey on Wednesday for a place in the semi-finals after the big-serving American outlasted South Africa’s Kevin Anderson 5-7 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 6-7 (11-13) 6-3 in five sets.

Dark horse Marin Cilic progressed to his fourth straight Wimbledon quarter-final with an impressive straight-sets win over 18th seed Roberto Bautista-Agut.

The Croatian seventh seed overpowered the Spaniard 6-2 6-2 6-2 to book a last-eight meeting on Wednesday against either two-time champion Rafael Nadal or Gilles Muller.

The 2014 US Open champion, Cilic has yet to make a semi-final at the grasscourt grand slam.

Former finalist Tomas Berdych is also through to the last eight following a hard-fought 6-3 6-7 (1-7) 6-3 3-6 6-3 victory over Austrian eighth seed Dominic Thiem.

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