The six-time champion advanced to the third round by beating qualifier Ilija Bozoljac 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (5).
Federer had a slightly easier time than in his opening match, when he overcame a two-set deficit. But he had trouble putting Bozoljac away, converting only three of 13 break-point chances.
Story continues below ↓advertisement | your ad here“I wish they were straight sets, obviously,” Federer said. “But as long as you’re moving on, especially at Wimbledon, I’m a happy man.”
Federer was never broken, won 75 percent of his service points and committed only 13 unforced errors. He won the final three points of the match, one with a bold drop shot when trailing 5-4 in the tiebreaker.
Three-time Wimbledon runner-up Andy Roddick dug out of an early hole and beat Michael Llodra 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, 7-6 (2). Seeded fifth, Roddick began playing serve and volley more as the match progressed, and he won 34 points at the net.
“That was as tough of a second round as there is,” Roddick said. “I had to make an adjustment. Off of my serve, I had to start coming in and serving and volleying behind it.”
Playing the first match on sun-splashed Centre Court, Roddick hit 25 aces, lost serve just once and committed only 11 unforced errors.
No. 3-seeded Novak Djokovic beat American Taylor Dent 7-6 (5), 6-1, 6-4. Dent served at up to 148 mph but lost 25 of 54 points at the net.
“All are vital necessities,” he said.
No. 15 Lleyton Hewitt, the 2002 champion, advanced when Evgeny Korolev retired trailing 6-4, 6-4, 3-0. American Mardy Fish had 30 aces but went 0-for-9 on break-point chances in the final set and lost to Florian Mayer 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
No. 13 Shahar Peer lost to Angelique Kerber 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Defending champion Federer was three points from defeat Monday against Alejandro Falla, and he was two points from being forced to a fifth set against Bozoljac, a Serb ranked 152nd.
Guardiola fined for ref rantвЂI definitely got very lucky today,’ Federer says
