Sunday Dec 15, 2024
Sunday Dec 15, 2024
Monday, 8 July 2019 00:15 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
London (Reuters): Roger Federer kept tennis statisticians on their toes on Saturday as he mopped up a few more records by trampling all over Lucas Pouille’s dreams in a rip-roaring 7-5 6-2 7-6(4) win to reach the fourth round of Wimbledon.
The Swiss became the first player - man or woman - to win 350 singles matches at the majors. 
But as the father of two sets of twins, Federer seems to have a penchant for doing things in pairs and Saturday was no different as he also set a professional era record of reaching the last 16 for the 17th time - surpassing the previous benchmark he had shared with Jimmy Connors.
The Swiss is unlikely to be popping champagne corks to celebrate either milestone, however, as he has his eyes firmly set on much, much bigger prizes - a record ninth Challenge Cup and a 21st Grand Slam title.
To get closer to that, however, he will first have to negotiate his way past Italian 17th seed Matteo Berrettini.
While the hollering fans gave Federer a standing ovation as he completed his 350th match win at the majors just a month shy of his 38th birthday, the world’s favourite tennis son was more circumspect about the record.
“I know back in the amateur times, they were not playing all the slams because it was too far to travel to some places,” said the Swiss after saluting the crowd which included Grand Slam champions of the calibre of Rod Laver, Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova.
