Federer makes fear factor count

Third round opponents Philipp Kohlschreiber and Roger Federer in between games on Centre Court. The anticipation of the Grand Slam draw must be immense, particularly for the lower seeds who do not always enjoy the privilege of protection at the Masters 1000 tournaments. What does my path to the second week look like? Can I avoid a dangerous floater who is coming back from injury or good on this particular surface? And of course, how far can I theoretically get before Roger/Rafa comes along and spoils my party? For 28th seed Philipp Kohlschreiber, that fateful day came in the third round here at Wimbledon. “When the draw came it I thought it was probably the worst one I could have got,” he said with a philosophical shrug after his 6-3, 6-2, 6-7, 6-1 defeat to the de facto top seed in the absence of Rafael Nadal. “You look to see when you’ve got Federer and then think ‘well that’s the end of the line’.” Federer, like Nadal, is famously magnanimous about his opponents, toeing the “the match starts at 0-0, you have to respect everyone, anyone can beat you on their day” line as often as not and using those very words in reference to Robin Soderling, against whom he will take a 10-0 head-to-head record into their fourth round meeting next week. Kohlschreiber, however, was forced to approach the match from the opposite perspective. “When you come out on Centre Court against one of the top guys, you know that 99% of the crowd are for the star. If you play give it your all, you might get some of them on your side, and I think that the applause that I got at the end of the match proved that. I feel they enjoyed the match so I’m very satisfied.” The match turned at the start of the fourth set. The German had just played some sparkling tennis to come back from a break down to edge a tiebreak and halve the deficit. What happened next was experienced in two entirely different ways by the protagonists. As far as Federer was concerned, it was an everyday occurrence: “I’ve lost a lot of sets in my career and the main thing is not to lose the match. You just start again and try to get off to a good start.” Again, Kohlschreiber saw it through different eyes. “I won a set, but that doesn’t pay the rent! And then he did what he always does. He's coming out from the changeover or the toilet and starts with a really good service game. His serving then was unbelievably good. “It's tough. He always starts everything looking so easy and smooth, but for the opponent, for example me today, I always felt the pressure so much that he's starting the matches very aggressive and puts a lot of pressure [on you]. It's always nice to play against him. It’s just unfortunate that most of the time, you’re going to lose.” For the lower seeds, it really is a case of the luck of the draw.

Federer holds off Kohlschreiber

Roger Federer lost his first set of the tournament but continued his imperious route to what could be his seventh Wimbledon final.

This time his victim was German Philipp Kohlschreiber, who battled defiantly on Centre Court but still went down to a 6-3 6-2 6-7 (5/7) 6-1 defeat.

It was a display scarred by a couple of lapses of concentration, especially in the third set, but they will have given scant comfort to the rest as Federer took his place in the fourth round with the added bonus of a couple of days rest over the weekend to recharge his energies.

Federer, who now plays Robin Soderling in the fourth round, the man he beat in the French Open final, said: "It has been a good first week. I thought this was my best match of the tournament even though I lost a set. It's fine as long as you come through without losing too much energy

"It will be nice to have Saturday and Sunday off and get rid of the pressure for a day or so. I felt a lot of pressure two years ago but I feel relaxed now. It's going to be an exciting second week."

The first game of the match epitomised the form Federer is in right now. Four first serves, two aces. He went on to reel off the first four games with two breaks of serve.

Federer looked in superb form but Kohlschreiber to his credit dug in, stepped up the aggression and managed to break serve in the next game and when the German won the next too, it looked as if Federer might have lost momentum.

It was not to be, Federer staying solid, but there was a brief glimpse of frustration from the Swiss at the start of the second set when his groundstroke landed flush on the line only to be called out by the line judge.

Federer threw his arms wide, appealed and Hawkeye confirmed the great man's eyesight to be somewhat keener than the official's.

He went on to break the Kohlschreiber serve and the match at that stage was beginning to take on the air of a training stint.

Another break of serve in the fifth game ended the set as a contest, with the Federer sliced backhand a particular feature.

The third set was the best of the match, at last the contest was competitive with Kohlschreiber digging in after once more losing his serve in the first game.

The rallies became heavier and longer and Kohlschreiber gained more joy at the net, reclaiming the break of serve in the eighth game.

He took the set to a tie-break which he won when Federer pushed an easy forehand just wide.

A murmur went round Centre Court as Federer, for the first time this tournament, looked fallible.

It did not last long, Kohlschreiber again losing his first service game of the set and with it the initiative.