Federer shrugs off injury to reach quarter-finals

Jul 03, 2012 |

London

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Six-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer shrugged off a rare medical time-out to defeat Xavier Malisse 7-6 (7/1), 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 on Monday to reach a 33rd successive Grand Slam quarter-final.

The Swiss great, who goes on to face either Russian 26th seed Mikhail Youzhny or Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan for a place in the semi-finals, had to come from two sets to love down to see off France's Julien Benneteau in the last round.

The 30-year-old appeared to be in serious trouble again after taking a 4-3 lead in the first set against Malisse, having to leave Centre Court to take a medical time-out where pain-killers were dispensed.

After the resumption, he stepped gingerly around the court but having cruised through the first set on a tie-break, the only obstacle he was then facing was the weather.

Rain drove the players off for 40 minutes, although the roof on Centre Court remained open.

Back on court, Federer broke Malisse three times in the second set, taking it 6-1.

The 31-year-old Belgian, whose only win in 10 previous meetings against Federer came in their first clash during the 1999 Davis Cup, battled with a break in the first game of the third set on his way to reducing the deficit.

Malisse broke again in the first game of the fourth, but once Federer, who hit 44 winners, had evened it up in the fourth game, he was comfortably back in charge.

He broke again for 4-2 and never looked back with his two hour 11 minute win giving him his 850th career triumph.

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