Wimbledon 2015: Quarter-Final Preview: Roger Federer vs Gilles Simon

The pair’s first meeting on grass

Seven-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer goes up against Gilles Simon of France in the 2015 Wimbledon quarter-finals on Wednesday. The pair have faced each just seven times before with Federer leading 5-2. This is their first meeting on grass however, and it will be intriguing to see how the match plays out.

Both have motivation to win, with Simon bidding to reach the semi-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career, and Federer looking to move one step closer to being the first man to win the Wimbledon Championship a record-breaking 8 times. The Swiss maestro has been in fine form so far, having dropped just one set so far and has faced just two break points in 58 service games.

Federer also has history backing him, as he has won 11 of the last 12 matches played against French players at Grand Slams.

Federer however, knows what to expect when it comes to facing Simon according to ATP World Tour;

“I'm not going to look further than Gilles Simon, who has caused me difficulties in the past,” said Federer. “I played him tough in some of the majors – Australian Open, French Open – we played five sets both times there.”

Simon, for his part too, knows what Federer is capable of;

“I often have some close matches with Roger,” said Simon. “Still he destroyed me once, so I'm ready that it can be sometimes difficult to face him.”

“We have never played on grass, facing him, this I know. But I think he's playing really good right now. I will just go there and try to play how I'm playing from the beginning of the tournament and from the beginning of the grass-court season.”

A challenging and competitive match is expected.

Road to Quarters

	Roger Federer	Gilles Simon
1st Round	bt Dzumhur 6-1 6-3 6-3	bt Almagro 6-4 6-4 7-5
2nd Round	bt Querrey 6-4 6-2 6-2	bt Kavcic 6-1 6-1 6-7 6-1
3rd Round	bt Groth 6-4 6-4 6-7 6-2	bt Monfils 3-6 6-3 7-6 2-6 6-2
4th Round	bt Bautista 6-2 6-2 6-3	bt Berdych 6-3 6-3 6-2

Prediction: Federer wins in 4 sets