Former Tennis World Number 1 and eight-time Wimbledon Champion, enjoyed a bit of fortune in the second round after Adrian Mannarino retired due to injury at the end of the fourth set with scores at the level.
The 20 Grand Slam holder, was in lead in the first set before losing the next two sets 6-7(3) and 3-6. He came back stronger in the fourth set with 6-2 but then his opponent got retired with an injury. The game lasted two hours and 44 minutes.
“It is awful. It shows that one shot can change the outcome of a match, a season, a career,” said Federer after the match.
“I wish him all the best and I hope he recovers quickly so we see him back on the courts. He could have won the match at the end. Obviously, he was the better player, so I definitely got a bit lucky,” added Federer.
Federer also believes that Mannarino could have easily won the game if he was not hit by an injury.
“You do not get many walkovers throughout a career and you try also not to have it happen to yourself. It is a reminder how quickly it goes. But of course, I am obviously happy I can get another chance for another match here. I worked very hard and at the end, I enjoyed myself out here today. It was great fun until the end, obviously,” he said at the Centre Court.
