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Tennis odds: Roger Federer vs. Mario Ancic
By Jordan WaltersWagerWeb.com Contributing Writer
| Sports Betting at WagerWeb Online Sportsbook |
OK, right off you expect Wimbledon top seed and five-time champion Roger Federer to have no trouble in his quarterfinal Wednesday against Croatia’s Mario Ancic.
But Ancic, who came from two sets down to overcome Fernando Verdasco in a five-set marathon, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 13-11, is the last man to beat Federer at Wimbledon, in the first round in 2002.
Of course, even Ancic realized times have changed.
“He was not Roger Federer at that time," Ancic said. "I can sit here and talk stories about how I beat Roger Federer, but actually it wasn't Roger Federer as we know him today.”
Since then, Federer has won all five of his matches against Ancic and dropped just one set. He won 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the 2006 Wimbledon quarterfinals and beat Ancic 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in the third round at this year's French Open.
Federer also has since gone 63 matches unbeaten on grass.
"I completely underestimated him back in 2002 when I played him," admitted Federer. "I got completely surprised. He played well until the very end. I was a little shell shocked and didn't know what happened to me.
"What it taught me was not to underestimate any opponent, no matter where they're from, what technique they have, what ranking they have.”
Ancic is unseeded this year after suffering a severe bout of glandular fever which put him out of action for six months in 2007. But he has upset three seeded players at the All England Club: No. 32 Michael Llodra, No. 5 David Ferrer and No. 22 Verdasco, a Frenchman and two Spaniards who are much more comfortable on the red clay.
And Ancic has had to battle through two five set matches where Federer has yet to drop a set. The Croat admits that after all his troubles, he's just happy to be back at the All England Club.
"Wimbledon means so much to me. It doesn't matter what happens at the end of the week. I really feel this is the tournament I grew up with. This is the tournament where I always felt great and always had great memories."
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