Federer reaches 3rd round at Wimbledon; Zverev, Medvedev also advance

London, Jul 1 (EFE).- A much improved Roger Federer defeated Richard Gasquet 7-6 (1), 6-1, 6-4 on Thursday to move into the third round of the 2021 Wimbledon tournament.

After struggling in his first match against Adrian Mannarino, who ultimately retired with an injury, the 39-year-old Swiss great looked sharp against Gasquet, 35.

Undaunted by the 18 losses in his 20 previous clashes with Federer, the Frenchman made a vigorous start and pushed the eight-time Wimbledon champion to a tie-break in the first set.

After the world No. 8 cruised in the second set, Gasquet moved out to a 4-2 lead in the third before being broken by Federer in the seventh game.

In the third round, Federer will face Briton Cameron Norrie, who beat Alex Bolt 6-3, 6-1, 6-2 Thursday.

The tournament’s fourth seed, Alexander Zverev of Germany, booked his spot in the third round with a 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 victory over American Tennys Sandgren.

The world No. 6 needed less than two hours to dispatch the 68th-ranked Sandgren. Next up for the 2020 US Open finalist will be Taylor Fritz, who prevailed 6-4, 7-6 (7), 4-6, 6-7 (4) on Thursday over fellow American Steve Johnson.

Zverev, 24, is hoping to improve on his best performance at Wimbledon, which came in 2017, when he made it to the round of 16.

World number two Daniil Medvedev beat Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets to reach the third round at Wimbledon while German fourth seed Alexander Zverev also progressed.

World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev is through to the third round after downing Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 6-1, 6-2.

To reach the fourth round for the first time, the Russian second-seed will have to overcome Croatia’s Marin Cilic, a 6-4, 3-6. 6-3, 7-6 (7) winner Thursday against Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi. EFE

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