Federer, Roddick Roll Toward Showdown at Wimbledon

Posted on June 28, 2004

Top-seeded Roger Federer and No. 2 Andy Roddick showed why they are the preeminent picks to meet in the Wimbledon final, on "People's Sunday" failing to drop a set in the face of stiff competition.

Federer prevailed 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 over grasscourt veteran and former Aussie Open winner Thomas Johansson, while Roddick fended off the big serving of countryman and No. 26 seed Taylor Dent 6-3, 7-6(6), 7-6(1).

"Roger Federer progressing through matches and playing well isn't exactly a surprise," Roddick said. "I'm playing my tournament. You know, if that includes him somewhere down the line, then I'll worry about it. But I'm not too concerned, and I'm sure he would say the same thing. You're always curious. But, you know, I'm trying to win my matches."

Federer says he is likewise keeping an eye on Roddick.

"I always keep watching a little bit of (Roddick's) matches because, you know, he's No. 2 in the world," Federer said. "I have to kind of also look at his game, how well he's playing, because we haven't seen each other very much in the claycourt season because both either, you know, lost or played different times or whatever. But here I'm checking him out more than maybe other tournaments."

Upsets on the day were provided by American (30)Vince Spadea (d. (8)Schuettler), and un-seeds Swede Joachim Johansson (d. countryman (17)Bjorkman in four), and Croatians "Dr." Ivo Karlovic (d. (18)Feliciano "F-Lo" Lopez in four) and Mario "Baby Goran" Ancic (d. (25)Hrbaty).

(5)Tim Henman electrified the People's Sunday Brit crowd with a four-set win over Hicham Arazi, with other seeded winners (11)Mark Philippoussis (d. (24)Gonzalez in four) and (12)Sjeng Schalken (d. Enqvist 6-2 in the fifth).

Three players advanced into the fourth round in all-unseeded matches in Germany's Florian Mayer (d. W.Ferreira in four), Belgium's Xavier "X-Man" Malisse (d. Beck), and another German in Alexander "My Serve Has" Popp (d. Carlsen).