Wimbledon: Federer, Murray cruise but Kvitova out

Former winners Roger Federer and Andy Murray moved into Wimbledon’s fourth round but reigning women’s champion Petra Kvitova was knocked out by Jelena Jankovic.

Federer’s Australian opponent Samuel Groth holds the record for the fastest ever delivery in tennis and regularly launched 140mph missiles but only briefly threatened the Swiss’s serene progress to the fourth round and eventually succumbed 6-4 6-4 6-7 6-2.

Groth briefly slowed Federer’s bid for a record eighth Wimbledon title by holding serve throughout the third set and forcing a tiebreak that he clinched when the second seed misjudged a forehand at set point.

Groth, whose fastest delivery of 147 mph fell just short of Taylor Dent’s 2010 Wimbledon record of 148, held his nerve throughout the third, but his inability to lay a glove on the Federer serve proved his ultimate downfall in the match.

“I am very happy. It has been a hot week the first week but thankfully I have had easy matches going through without too many long four or five setters,” said Federer, who now faces 20th-seeded Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut.

“Now we are looking ahead and there are only big matches.”

Murray dropped his first set at this year’s event and needed on-court treatment for a sore shoulder before advancing to a fourth round showdown with big-serving Ivo Karlovic with a 6-2 6-2 1-6 6-1 win.

Joining him in the fourth round was the newest member of the grand slam club, US Open champion Marin Cilic who beat John Isner 7-6, 6-7, 6-4 6-7, 12-10. 

Kvitova sent packing

Holder Kvitova suffered a shock 3-6 7-5 6-4 defeat by Serbia’s former world number one Jankovic.

Second seed Kvitova breezed through her first two matches but after taking the first set against 30-year-old Jankovic, the Czech made too many errors allowing the 28th seed to triumph.

“I am overwhelmed and so excited,” said Jankovic, who has never been past the fourth round at the All England Club and admits that grass is not her favourite surface.

“I have played so poorly the last couple of years and playing on Centre Court against the defending champion was unbelievable. The crowd was really great.

“My opponent was in great form, no doubt about it, I just tried to stay in there, stay positive and fight and I made it. I have to keep going.”

“I am glad I was able to win against a two-time Wimbledon champion,” added Jankovic.

“I could not believe it. Beating Petra gives me a lot of confidence for the tournament.”

In the last 16 Jankovic faces Poland’s 13th seed Agnieszka Radwanska who beat Casey Dellacqua of Australia 6-1 6-4. 

Earlier, 2013 finalist Sabine Lisicki was knocked out 6-3, 6-2 by Timea Bacsinszky.

Men’s results:

3-Andy Murray (Britain) beat 25-Andreas Seppi (Italy) 6-2 6-2 1-6 6-1
6-Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) beat Pablo Andujar (Spain) 4-6 6-0 6-3 7-6(3)
Vasek Pospisil (Canada) beat James Ward (Britain) 6-4 3-6 2-6 6-3 8-6
23-Ivo Karlovic (Croatia) beat 13-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) 7-6(3) 4-6 7-6(2) 7-6(9)
2-Roger Federer (Switzerland) beat Samuel Groth (Australia) 6-4 6-4 6-7(5) 6-2
9-Marin Cilic (Croatia) beat 17-John Isner (U.S.) 7-6(4) 6-7(6) 6-4 6-7(4) 12-10
22-Viktor Troicki (Serbia) beat Dustin Brown (Germany) 6-4 7-6(3) 4-6 6-3
20-Roberto Bautista (Spain) beat Nikoloz Basilashvili (Georgia) 7-6(4) 6-0 6-1

Women’s results:

28-Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) beat 2-Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) 3-6 7-5 6-4
Olga Govortsova (Belarus) beat Magdalena Rybarikova (Slovakia) 7-6(4) 6-3
15-Timea Bacsinszky (Switzerland) beat 18-Sabine Lisicki (Germany) 6-3 6-2
21-Madison Keys (U.S.) beat Tatjana Maria (Germany) 6-4 6-4
13-Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) beat Casey Dellacqua (Australia) 6-1 6-4
5-Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) beat 31-Camila Giorgi (Italy) 6-2 6-2
20-Garbine Muguruza Blanco (Spain) beat 10-Angelique Kerber (Germany) 7-6(12) 1-6 6-2
Monica Niculescu (Romania) beat Kristyna Pliskova (Czech Republic) 6-3 7-5