This time, they played in the fourth round, the surface was grass and the conditions were sweltering.
The result was no different, though, as Roger Federer swept Robin Soderling in straight sets.
Federer outserved the Swede 6-4, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5) on Monday to reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals — three weeks after downing Soderling in three sets in Paris for his first French Open title.
Winning the big points and never losing serve, Federer extended his career record against the 13th-ranked Soderling to 11-0. He’s dropped only one set to the Swede in 26 sets played.
“When you play a player like Soderling, who you’ve beaten already 10 times in the past, it just shoots through your mind,” Federer said. “All the information is right there, you know, stored somewhere.”
The five-time Wimbledon champion reached his 25th Grand Slam quarterfinal and matched Ivan Lendl with 48 match wins at Wimbledon for a share of eighth place on the all-time list. He’s just three wins away from a record 15th Grand Slam championship and will regain the No. 1 ranking from injured Rafael Nadal if he takes the title.
Federer looks back at home — and back at his best — after a rough period early in the year when he lost to Nadal in the Australian Open final and struggled to find his dominant form.
Now he feels like a new player again.
“Just being relaxed on court,” Federer said. “No signs of panics, what I maybe had six months ago when I played. I would just feel uneasy. I wouldn’t be exactly sure what the right plays were. Now I feel perfect.”
Up next is Ivo Karlovic, the 6-foot-10 Croatian who served 35 aces and beat No. 7 Fernando Verdasco 7-6 (5), 6-7 (4), 6-3, 7-6 (9). Karlovic has yet to lose his serve in four matches, but Federer is 8-1 against him.
