Federer too good for Goffin

Roger Federer had won his matches easily and 15th seed David Goffin had worked hard to reach this fourth round match so it was hard to mount a case for the Belgian beating the 3rd seed.

Federer started by serving well, an ace included in the opening game 1-0.  Goffin levelled, the Swiss player ridding himself of some cobwebs in the form of unwanted unforced errors.  Another simple hold of serve had Federer at 2-1 and then he broke the Goffin serve as the script suggested he would for a 3-1 lead.

Serving and volleying now with ease, Federer consolidated the break and the 4-1 was a major concern to Goffin whose skill set looked rather limited next to what was on the other side of the net.

A better game was the sixth for the 15th seed where his ground strokes forced Federer into error enough for Goffin to register his second game.

Another ace featured in the next Federer service game which of course he won to lead 5-2.  Goffin was  quickly at 0-40, saved two set points, but messed up a forehand and the set was over.

Federer had taken just twenty one minutes to win it 6-2.  Those who had an extra drink before moving to their seats would have missed the set.

The trend continued in the second set, Federer winning to love in the first game, before Goffin levelled surpringly with comfort after dropping the first point.  Federer fired two aces in moving to 2-1 and proceeded to take Goffin to the cleaners.

Federer was clean himself with winners everywhere and forcing errors off the Belgian racquet whenever he pleased.  A forehand winner closed out the fourth game which was a break of the Goffin serve, and the sixth game saw four break points, the final one converted with a Swiss backhand winner.  Six deuces in the game which was excruciatingly long and in the end that much more painful for Goffin to lose.  Federer ahead 5-1

Federer won the set 6-1, his forehand too much for a rattled Goffin.

When Federer broke in the opening game of set three, most expected a fast finish.  However Federer had to negotiate two deuces before taking a 2-0 lead.  Goffin had 40-0 but a double fault triggered a long haul, two deuces before an ace made it 1-2.

A love game for the third seed and it was 3-1.  Winners from Federer brought him two break points and he used the second to break again.  4-1 and close to the quarter final.  Out of the blue Goffin pressured Federer into error and forced a break point which he converted with a winning backhand.

A love game from Goffin and it was 3-4.  Federer had enough of this and decided that Goffin should win only two more points for the match.

The win was comprehensive 6-2 6-1 6-4

Roger Federer was very good tonight, although enthusiasm for his performance should be tempered by his opposition which was several levels below what will be coming in the quarters with Tomas Berdych.