TNT Sports
Federer goes through
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Published 27/06/2003 at 21:38 GMT+1
Swiss Roger Federer's bid for a first grand slam title gained momentum at Wimbledon on Friday when he beat American Mardy Fish 6-3 6-1 4-6 6-1 to reach the last 16 of the men's singles. Follow all of the games LIVE on Saturday from 12:00 CET on eurosport.
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The 21-year-old Swiss, regarded by many as the natural successor to seven-times Wimbledon champion Pete Sampras, had Fish floundering on an overcast Centre Court as he rattled through the first two sets with near-perfect grasscourt tennis.
But a 40-minute rain delay at the end of the second set gave Fish time to recover his senses and he returned to give the fourth seed a real scare.
From being in total control, Federer suddenly looked vulnerable and Fish pounced to earn a break at 4-4 before serving out the set.
The Swiss weathered the storm, however, and a running forehand pass set up a break of serve early in the fourth set to settle his nerves. A double fault from Fish at 1-4 gifted Federer another break and this time there was no way back.
Federer will now play Spain's Feliciano Lopez for a place in the quarter-final.
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