Casual as you like, Roger Federer in cruise control flicking a "tweener lob'' over 6ft 6in Sam Querrey is a highlight notching up the clicks at a rate of knots.
Even his American opponent was in awe despite being on the wrong end of a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 defeat on Centre Court on Thursday.
He admitted to an aura about the seven-time Wimbledon champion, especially when in full flight in his Centre Court domain. "You want to go over and give him a high five sometimes but you can't do that,” the world No.36 said. “You want to beat him, but he’s fun to watch.”
The Swiss was all for it. “He said that? OK,” Federer laughed. “That’s cool. Why, he can do it. I’m happy to do it too, you know.”
On the 14th anniversary to the day since a 19-year-old Federer made his Centre Court debut, the Swiss was again inflicting pain on an American.
Back then it was seven-time champion Pete Sampras he bundled out 7-6(7), 5-7, 6-4, 6-7(2), 7-5 in a fourth-round boilover. On this Thursday, however, there would be no such surprise.
Federer had lost before the third round only once in his past 48 appearances but it was here on Wimbledon’s Centre Court in the second round two years ago against Sergiy Stakhovsky.
Querrey, despite having reached the final at Nottingham only last week, was going to have to play at another level, having failed to take a set against his opponent before. Federer was coming off his eighth title on the grass at Halle.
I had a good ten minutes at the end of the first set. I think that was the key moment
With the Swiss a set and a break up, Querrey hit a solid net-rushing backhand volley. Federer looked to have overrun the mark beyond the baseline before pulling off the "tweener lob''. A scrambling Querrey could only manage to dump it into the net. The roar from the Centre Court crowd said it all.
“It all happens very quickly. I can't put it on super slow and go, All right, what's best?” Federer said. “Through the legs, you're not sure if it's going to come short or high. I got lucky. I hit it perfect. Yeah, I felt like there was a chance, legitimate chance, to win the point. And it was fun. It just happened to be the right thing.”
His bid for a record eighth Wimbledon title continued to roll on at pace when he broke in the opening game of the third. He would seal it on his first match point when Querrey pushed wide. Big-serving Aussie Sam Groth is next.
Federer, though, was not as keen to talk in numbers just yet. Asked whether he rated his second-round performance as high as an eight or nine out of 10, he preferred to look at from a different perspective.
“I don't really rate performances like that. At the end, you know, it comes down to a few shots here and there. Your overall feeling, your overall performance, probably across the board I was really rock solid and really happy,” he said.
“I'm just pleased I didn't have any hiccups. I had a good 10 minutes at the end of the first set. I think that was the key moment to go from four‑all to 6‑4, 2‑0. That was the moment that I took control of the match really.”
Well down the track, the likes of his 2010 Wimbledon nemisis Tomas Berdych and 2013 champion Andy Murray still stand in Federer’s path before he could even contemplate a potential rematch with defending champion Novak Djokovic in a 10th final at the All England Club.
The signs are promising early on, however. Federer certainly still harbours plans of pulling clear of Sampras with an eighth Slam on the grass.
“I think it's possible. But then again, many players are playing well. You know, Andy is playing better than he was last year. The younger guys have gained a year of experience on the grass. Clearly it's not going to get easier,” he said. “At the same time, I feel like when my game's going well, like it was now, this week so far, and also last year, at the level I was playing, I feel like there's a good chance for me as well.”
Too early for high fives all round just yet. Only Grand Slam title No.18 would warrant that.
