Roger Federer v Gilles Simon: Wimbledon 2015 – as it happened

An easy win for Roger Federer, who looks in the mood to claim a record eighth Wimbledon title.

4.10pm BST

That was so easy for Federer. Simon didn’t do much wrong, he was simply swatted aside by this imperious living legend of the game. Simon even managed to break Federer, the first man to do so in this tournament. And what was his reward? Federer simply applied some pressure to the gas pedal, and broke straight back. He looks unstoppable in this form. Andy Murray - if he makes it through his quarter final against Vasek Pospisil - will have a job on in the semis, put it that way.

4.06pm BST

Third set: Simon 3-6, 5-7, 2-6 Federer*
Nothing’s gone right for poor old Simon today, and again Federer benefits from an outrageous stroke of luck. He mishits a simple forehand, the ball coming off the frame of his racket and dropping over the net, but Simon is unable to retrieve. But of course he’s been by far the better player today, and sets up a couple of match points with some crisp serve-and-volley tennis. A comic double fault delays the inevitable, but he wraps up the victory after winning a rat-a-tat rally at the net. Slam dunk.

4.03pm BST

Third set: Simon* 3-6, 5-7, 2-5 Federer
A short second serve allows Federer to jog all the way round it and whip an unstoppable cross-court forehand from left to right. Stunning. And then the same treatment on the next point, the ball zipping through the deuce court this time. Simon’s in all sorts of trouble, and he fizzes a forehand long. Two break points for Federer. And he gets the double break, showing patience during a long rally, Simon sending the weakest of forehands into the net. He cries in anguish. This is over.

3.59pm BST

Third set: Simon 3-6, 5-7, 2-4 Federer*
Another lucky net cord for Federer, as an attempted pass down the right hits the net and topples over. Simon does well to chase it down, but can’t keep his desperate dink in play. Federer has been effortlessly brilliant today - he closes this game out with a yawn - and he really doesn’t need the luck too. But he’s got it. He makes it himself, I guess.

3.57pm BST

Third set: Simon* 3-6, 5-7, 2-3 Federer
Another strong hold for Simon. This is the thing: he’s played his service games pretty well, on the whole. A couple of momentary lapses. But those lapses have been enough. He looks a beaten man. Immediately losing his serve after finally breaking Federer in the second set has broken him.

3.53pm BST

Third set: Simon 3-6, 5-7, 1-3 Federer*
These Federer service games are a total non-event! Simon’s a superb returner, but he can’t do anything about Federer’s metronomic brilliance. Even the net’s against him: the one ball he gets back hits the cord, and topples over, but just the wrong side of the right-hand sideline. It’s just not his day. It’s almost certainly Federer’s, though. And perhaps his tournament as well.

3.51pm BST

Third set: Simon* 3-6, 5-7, 1-2 Federer
Simon holds in a fairly fuss-free fashion here, though Federer’s not exactly busting a gut. A sense that his work here is done. It’s almost as though he’s trusting that serve to finish the job.

3.47pm BST

Third set: Simon 3-6, 5-7, 0-2 Federer*
A simple hold to back up the break, and already this match feels over. Simon hasn’t got going again at all.

3.46pm BST

Third set: Simon* 3-6, 5-7, 0-1 Federer
After both players enjoy a well-deserved rest after those three unreturned Federer serves, the third set gets underway. Simon needs something to happen soon. What he doesn’t need is an immediate implosion. Federer advances to the net, inviting the lob. Simon indeed lobs, but too long. Then a long forehand, and suddenly the Frenchman is in a whole world of pain. Another break, and Federer is closing in on victory.

3.39pm BST

Second set: Simon 3-6, 5-7 Federer*
Boom. Boom. Boom. Wasn’t that worth waiting 40 minutes for?

3.38pm BST

And we’re off again. Federer will restart the match, serving at 15-0, as he looks to close out the second set.

3.33pm BST

The chaps are out and about again. And now for another painfully slow warm-up, as the players get themselves in the zone for a third time today. But the good news is, we’ll have some more tennis very soon!

3.26pm BST

Entertainment ahoy! For the covers are coming off. After another half-hour hiatus, we’ll be going again shortly.

2.59pm BST

And it’s another rain delay. Gah! Federer, at 15-0, was desperate to finish his service game and wrap up the second set - a second set he should have won already, of course - but the heavens have opened and the covers are on. God bless Great Britain and her summers.

2.58pm BST

Second set: Simon* 3-6, 5-6 Federer
Federer appears to have taken that break as a personal insult. A net cord looks to have benefitted Simon, but Federer chases it down and whips a ball to the right corner. Simon can’t return. Then Federer smashes away a short one. And then a Homeric rally, Federer earning a couple of break points with an astonishing whipped forehand down the right sideline. An immediate break back, and once again he’ll be serving for the set. A huge COME ON greets his achievement. How about that for stepping on the gas, moving up the gears, and other automotive metaphors? He’s like no other.

2.53pm BST

Second set: Simon 3-6, 5-5 Federer*
Well, what’s this? A couple of lengthy rallies, Simon pushing Federer to the back of the court, and it’s 0-30. Then he whips a two-handed backhand down the left sideline, and he’s got three break points! Federer’s only faced two in the entire tournament so far! And Simon only needs the one, Federer flashing a cross-court forehand well wide left. This set is back on! As, indeed, is the match! Out of nowhere, as well!

2.50pm BST

Second set: Simon* 3-6, 4-5 Federer
An easy enough hold for Simon, with Federer happy enough to bide his time and serve for the set. The damage here has, you sense, already been done.

2.46pm BST

Second set: Simon 3-6, 3-5 Federer*
Thing is, Simon hasn’t been playing particularly badly. He’s certainly not been serving badly. But there’s an awful lot of pressure on your serve when you can’t make any inroads into your opponent’s. Federer’s made 79% of his first serves, and he’s winning over 80% of those points. Federer is utterly dominant, clinical, relentless. It’s less Federeresque, more Samprasian. He’s within touching distance of the second set.

2.43pm BST

Second set: Simon* 3-6, 3-4 Federer
A weak second serve. Federer meanders round it, with the air of a man popping down the shops for the Sunday paper, and whips it away through the deuce court. Then Federer nearly knocks his opponent off his feet with a crunching forehand that lands on the baseline. A couple of break points, and Federer only needs one, a patient rally ending with Simon lashing the ball out of play down the right. This is easy for Federer right now.

2.39pm BST

Second set: Simon 3-6, 3-3 Federer*
This gets the crowd going, though. A 26-stroke rally, both players finding the corners with fizzing forehands. And for once it’s Simon who comes out on top, Federer cracking by shanking an impatient forehand well wide right. A rare unforced error. But Federer simply, smoothly, wins the next four points. The last is the only one that’s anything other than simple, Simon pushing him wide left, only for a cross-court forehand to whistle back past his eyes.

2.35pm BST

Second set: Simon* 3-6, 3-2 Federer
Now it’s Simon’s turn to hold with no fuss. This one to love. Federeresque. This match hasn’t really taken off at all, and a subdued No1 Court reflects that.

2.33pm BST

Second set: Simon 3-6, 2-2 Federer*
Federer - like this is breaking news - is never afraid to come to the net. Here he advances for the seventh time in the match so far, and puts away the seventh crisp volley. Then another ace, and once again Simon has no answers to the Federer serve.

2.31pm BST

Second set: Simon* 3-6, 2-1 Federer
An odyssey of a rally at 15-0. Federer looks to have won it with a monster crosscourt forehand, but Simon retrieves well. Federer should nevertheless put away a smash, but hoicks the ball wide right. It’s 30-0, but Simon’s serve briefly malfunctions. After a double fault, Federer’s got him to 30-30. But Simon quickly relocates the groove, and a couple of booming serves earns him the game. He had to work a little for that one, though.

2.26pm BST

Second set: Simon 3-6, 1-1 Federer*
Although getting anything out of this Federer serve is another matter. There goes another service game, to love, in a flash.

2.25pm BST

Second set: Simon* 3-6, 1-0 Federer
A simple enough hold for Simon, the high point of which is a glorious two-handed backhand down the left sideline. He’s looked fairly metronomic since the resumption in play. Too late to save the first set, but perhaps we’ve got a game on now.

2.21pm BST

First set: Simon 3-6 Federer*
Simon charges down a drop shot and whips a backhand across court. It’s 30-30, and there’s a glimmer of an opening. But only for a brief moment in time. A couple of big serves, the second of them a booming ace, and Federer takes the opening set! He’s hardly broken sweat in doing so.

2.19pm BST

First set: Simon* 3-5 Federer
Some classic serve-and-volley stuff wins Simon the first point. The tone set, he eases his way to a game that keeps him alive in this set. He’s been fine since the resumption of play. Will that slow start cost him?

2.15pm BST

First set: Simon 2-5 Federer*
Shot of the match so far, as Simon draws Federer to the net, then lobs his opponent with a dainty flick of the wrists. Phil Mickelson would have been proud of that chip. But Federer puts away a simple smash, then whistles down an ace, and finally teases Simon by ending a long rally with an exquisite drop volley. He’s closing in on the first set.

2.12pm BST

First set: Simon* 2-4 Federer
An easy enough hold for Simon, this time, one double fault apart. Federer hits long, then finds the net, then hits another couple long. Solid by Simon, and totally unspectacular.

2.09pm BST

First set: Simon 1-4 Federer*
Simon’s still struggling to make any inroads on the Federer serve. A couple of decent returns, which push his opponent back, but again Federer comes up with a big serve here, a powerful second serve there, and the game’s wrapped up without fuss.

2.07pm BST

First set: Simon* 1-3 Federer
A couple of easy points for Simon, but then he nets a simple volley. That gives Federer an opportunity, which he threatens to take by slashing a forehand down the line. It’s 30-30, but a couple of weak forehands into the net put paid to any notions. Simon’s on the scoreboard.

2.04pm BST

At last! It’s the fourth game and 15th minute of the match! Simon to serve, 0-3 down, looking to make his first impression on the scoreboard. We’re off! Again!

1.59pm BST

And here come the lads! A break of just over half an hour. I hope Roger didn’t keep Gilles waiting this time, hanging around like a spare part. A quick warm-up, and soon we’ll be away again.

1.57pm BST

Rain has been replaced by mere cloud, and the covers are coming off. I’m also pleased to report, courtesy of the BBC’s roving eye, that several members of the No1 Court crowd are busy getting totally flootered, paggered and banjaxed on carbonated grape drink. One couple in particular were earnestly charging their flutes like they really mean business, a serious job of work tackled head on. And good on them for making the most of their day off. Someone else in an NFL cap was eating a pasty. Or it might have been a sandwich. We could probably do with some tennis, to be honest. Meanwhile I’m not the only one with too much time on my hands right now. “Why is Bill Giles smelling no evil?” wonders Thomas Lawrence. “Shouldn’t he be seeing no evil? Cheeky monkey.”

1.33pm BST

Weather report: It’s coming down in stair rods, but expected to be a brief enough break. So don’t wander too far. Or start any work. Hopefully we’ll get going again in a little while.

1.26pm BST

And after 14 minutes play, both men are hauled off court as the covers are hauled on. It’s raining. Hot damn.

1.25pm BST

First set: Simon 0-3 Federer*
Simon struggled awfully during his first service game. No such drama yet on the Federer serve. This one’s held to love, and sealed with a delicious drop volley, Simon scampering towards the net in impotent despair. The Frenchman hasn’t got a foothold in this match yet.

1.23pm BST

First set: Simon* 0-2 Federer
Federer moves Simon this way and that, before approaching the net. A beautifully worked point. So then he wafts a dismal volley into the net. Very uncharacteristic. But it’s his only real mistake of the game. He’s finding the corners, and he forces deuce, Simon’s serve not quite firing yet. Federer’s lovely whipped cross-court forehand is called out, and it looks like Simon’s won the game, but the call’s challenged with a raise of a Swiss eyebrow, and it’s the width of an eyelash in. Four deuces and two break points later, and a lovely passing shot down the right-hand sideline earns the break.

1.14pm BST

First set: Simon 0-1 Federer* (*denotes server)
Simon is straight out of the blocks, passing Federer twice with his two-handed backhand. One more point, and it’ll be only the third break point Federer’s given up in the championship so far! But four quick big booms later, and the game’s over in a flash. Some early promise for the underdog, I guess.

1.11pm BST

Simon won the toss, and has elected to receive. It’s time! A rare old atmosphere on No1. It’s cloudy. We’re under way!

1.06pm BST

The line judges, resplendent in their blazers and caps, take to No1 Court. Punters, full of a popular brand of fruit cup, the stuff rolling out of their eyeballs neat, stumble to their seats. And finally, in their Wimbledon whites, it’s the arrival of Roger Federer and Gilles Simon. Federer keeps Simon waiting awhile in the changing rooms, popping into the water closet to do what an athlete has to do. But eventually he’s ready to enter the arena. Hands are shaken, coins are tossed, and now they’re knocking up. Tik tok swish swipe clip clatter clack clackity click. We’ll be off in a minute!

12.00pm BST

Roger Federer - as he did in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2012 - is making his own sweet way through the Wimbledon draw. As he goes for that record-busting eighth title, which would render William Renshaw and Pete Sampras as mere dots in the rear-view mirror, he’s yet to be broken. In fact, he’s given up just two break points in 58 games. Stylish and serene. Effortless. If you set his life to a soundtrack, the bass part would be played by Ray Brown.

By rights, Gilles Simon shouldn’t really cause the 17-time major winner too many problems. This is already Simon’s best run at Wimbledon, matching his career best in a slam, a quarter-final appearance at the Australian Open in 2009. But! The 30-year-old Frenchman is in the zone on grass right now. He made the semis at Queen’s last month. He’s just cashiered Tomáš Berdych, the world number six and 2010 finalist, from this tournament in straight sets. He’s also got a history of giving Federer a little trouble in the slams, having taken the Swiss living legend to five sets at the 2011 Australian Open and 2013 French Open. No mug, then. He is the world number 13, after all. And one hell of a returner, so Federer might do well to keep that proud service record going.

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