LONDON – Spanish seventh seed David Ferrer beat three-time runner-up Andy Roddick to reach the Wimbledon last 16 on Saturday, sparking fresh doubts over the American's future in tennis. Ferrer came back from a set down to clinch a 2-6, 7-6 (10/8), 6-4, 6-3 triumph and goes on to face 2009 US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro for a place in the quarterfinals. But it was Roddick's farewell gesture to Centre Court which was the talking point. The 29-year-old, who came into the tournament on the back of a 31st career title in Eastbourne, applauded all four sides of the court, blowing a kiss to the fans, many of whom would have witnessed his three agonizing final defeats to Roger Federer in 2004, 2005 and 2009. That last loss, an epic five-setter, which ended 16-14 in the final set, was Roddick's last memorable campaign at the All England Club. He lost in the last 16 in 2010, the third round last year and Saturday's loss, also in the third round, will only increase the speculation over the former world number one's career. “I don't have a definitive answer, I can't give you much else,” said 2003 US Open champion Roddick, when asked if Saturday was his last farewell to Wimbledon. At least the United States had the consolation of seeing two men into the last 16. Tenth seed Mardy Fish, a quarter-finalist last year and playing his first tournament since undergoing a heart operation, beat Belgian wildcard David Goffin 6-3, 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (8/6). Fish will face French fifth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, a semifinalist in 2011, who defeated Slovakia's Lukas Lacko 6-4, 6-3, 6-3. Qualifier Brian Baker's fairytale return hit a new high when he enjoyed a 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 victory over France's Benoit Paire. Baker lost six years of his career to an assortment of injuries that left him needing five different operations on a hernia, left and right hips and his right elbow. The 27-year-old, who started the year ranked 458, will rise to at least 78 after his performances at Wimbledon. On a windswept Court 12, normal service was resumed as German 27th seed Philipp Kohlschreiber, who beat Nadal on grass at Halle two weeks ago, eased to a 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 (8/6) win and a first appearance in the last 16. Kohlschreiber will tackle Baker for a place in the quarterfinals. Del Potro defeated Kei Nishikori, the first Japanese man since 1995 to reach the third round, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3), 6-1 and will face Ferrer. Serena Williams fired down a Wimbledon record 23 aces and Yaroslava Shvedova blitzed through a record 24 consecutive points in the women's section. The four-time women's champion Williams' serve was on fire and she was never broken but she was lucky to escape unscathed as she subdued Zheng Jie's charge with a 6-7, 6-2, 9-7 third-round win. The 24-year-old wildcard left French Open runner-up Sara Errani red-faced by becoming the first player to win a set in a grand slam tournament without conceding a point. The first set disappeared in a 15-minute blur as Shvedova won 24 consecutive points – known as a golden set – on court three. Tenth seed Errani fought back in the second but was powerless to stop Shvedova wrapping up a 6-0, 6-4 victory. Joining the 13-time grand slam champion in the second week were title holder Petra Kvitova, Australian Open victor Victoria Azarenka and former French Open champions Ana Ivanovic and Francesca Schiavone. Kvitova walloped American Varvara Lepchenko 6-1, 6-0, second seed Azarenka eased past Slovakian Jana Cepelova 6-3, 6-3 and Schiavone thumped Czech Klara Zakopalova 6-0, 6-4. Roger Federer kept his dreams of equalling Pete Sampras's record of seven Wimbledon titles narrowly alive Friday and top seed Novak Djokovic also reached the last 16. Six-time champion Federer survived a huge scare, coming within just two points of crashing to his worst Wimbledon defeat in 10 years before battling from two sets down to beat French 29th seed Julien Benneteau. Federer clinched an eighth career fightback from two sets in arrears to win 4-6, 6-7 (3/7), 6-2, 7-6 (8/6), 6-1 and will face unseeded Belgian Xavier Malisse for a place in the quarterfinals. Defending champion Djokovic avoided another Czech Republic Centre Court ambush with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 win over veteran Radek Stepanek. The Serb goes on to play compatriot Victor Troicki, who put out Argentine 15th seed Juan Monaco 7-5, 7-5, 6-3, for a place in the quarterfinals. Xavier Malisse of Belgium, who reached the last four in 2002, defeated Spanish 17th seed Fernando Verdasco 1-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-1, 4-6, 6-3. Kim Clijsters, a semifinalist in 2003 and 2006 and playing her last Wimbledon before retirement, reached the last 16 when Russian Vera Zvonareva quit with breathing problems. Zvonareva was trailing 6-3, 4-3 at the time. — Agencies
