Federer Stylishly Surpasses Borg

Roger Federer walked onto Wimbledon’s Centre Court Tuesday wearing a cream-colored blazer over tennis whites. It was, he said, to honor his sport’s most traditional tournament and when he put the jacket back on at the end of the match, Federer owned the record for most consecutive grass-court victories.

With his dominating 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 win over 20-year-old Frenchman Richard Gasquet, Federer won his 42nd straight on grass, surpassing Bjorn Borg. It’s a record Federer said he is pleased to hold but that it is only a step in his main quest, which is to win a fourth straight Wimbledon title.

“To come through today, that was my only wish,” Federer said, “and not to break the streak really.”

It took him only 1 hour 12 minutes, but those 72 minutes were played over two days after rain postponed his match Monday when he was leading, 6-3, 1-2. He finished the match in exuberant style by smashing a winning overhead and then rewarding the crowd for its long ovation by sending a ball to a fan.

Federer hasn’t lost here since he stumbled against Mario Ancic in the first round in 2002. But that means he has won only 22 straight matches at Wimbledon. Borg’s streak was compiled only at Wimbledon, which makes it, Federer said, more impressive.

“Halle is not Wimbledon,” Federer said, referring to the German grass event he won two weeks ago as an example. “Wimbledon stays Wimbledon after all. The five Wimbledons and sixth final is something beyond almost possibilities for any player. So obviously Borg stays a hero.”

He said the stylish blazer was something he and his clothing designer created. “We thought after three Wimbledons we could do something special,” Federer said. “The logo on it has three racquets for the three Wimbledon titles, it’s got the grass logo, it’s got the lion star sign, the Swiss cross and Federer.”

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Andre Agassi, 36, playing his final Wimbledon and wearing a necklace made by his 4-year-old son Jaden Gil that spelled out “Daddy Rocks,” lost the opening set and limped through the third before beating Boris Pashanski of Serbia and Montenegro, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-3.

Pashanski, playing his first Wimbledon, double-faulted on the last two points of the match, displaying the nerves of a tournament rookie. Most concerning to Agassi, though, were the aches he felt in the third set. After failing to convert on five break-point chances in the third game, Agassi spent the changeover wincing and stretching his right leg and hip.

“I’ve had years where I’ve felt better,” Agassi said. “I sort of don’t want to harp on any of the negatives. This is a challenge for me in more ways than I probably ever communicate about.”

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Britain’s perennial hope and four-time Wimbledon semifinalist Tim Henman was pushed to five sets before knocking out Sweden’s Robin Soderling, 6-7 (8), 6-3, 6-2, 1-6, 6-3. The extra effort spent on court Tuesday will not serve Henman well in his next match. He plays Federer.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity,” Henman, 31, said. “Today, as five sets go, it was pretty routine. It feels really good to be playing a match here at Wimbledon with really very limited, very little pressure and expectation. I want to go out there and let it happen. Go out there, go for my shots, see what happens.”

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The top women were less challenged.

Among them, Kim Clijsters, seeded second, completed her rain-delayed match against dangerous Vera Zvonareva, winning, 7-5, 6-3. Justine Henin-Hardenne routed Yuan Meng, 6-0, 6-1.

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French Open champion Rafael Nadal of Spain, seeded No. 2, showed no ill effects from a shoulder injury that caused him to withdraw from a tournament almost two weeks ago. He beat British wild card Alex Bogdanovic, 6-4, 7-6 (3), 6-4. Nadal could meet Agassi in the third round but was more concerned about missing part of the Spain-France soccer match.

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Andy Roddick, a finalist here the last two years, had his scheduled first-round match against Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia and Montenegro postponed to today because of darkness.

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At a glance

Highlights from Day 2:

Top men’s seeded winners: No. 1 Roger Federer, No. 2 Rafael Nadal, No. 4 David Nalbandian, No. 7 Mario Ancic, No. 8 James Blake, No. 10 Fernando Gonzalez, No. 11 Tommy Robredo, No. 13 Tomas Berdych, No. 14 Radek Stepanek, No. 19 Tommy Haas.

* Top men’s seeded losers: No. 12 Thomas Johansson to Jonas Bjorkman, No. 20 Dominik Hrbaty to Daniele Bracciali.

* Top women’s seeded winners: No. 2 Kim Clijsters, No. 3 Justine Henin-Hardenne, No. 5 Svetlana Kuznetsova, No. 8 Patty Schnyder, No. 10 Nicole Vaidisova.

* Top women’s seeded losers: No. 13 Anna-Lena Groenefeld to Tsvetana Pironkova, No. 17 Maria Kirilenko to Shinobu Asagoe.

* On court today: Roger Federer, Andy Roddick, Lleyton Hewitt, David Nalbandian, Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova, Amelie Mauresmo, Kim Clijsters, Justine Henin-Hardenne, Martina Hingis.