Men's singles second round latest:

R FEDERER (Swi) 1 * v R Soderling (Swe)

4-2

* denotes server

LATEST ACTION (all times BST)

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Federer 4-2 Soderling
Decent rhythm on the big Soder-serve, as we'd expected, but unless he can dent the Fed fender against serve he's going to be a set down.

Federer 4-1 Soderling
Efficient destruction from Fed on his serve, and Soders has as much chance of getting involved as a vegetarian at a hog-roast. I heard a rumour a few months back that Stefani was going bald - clearly a defamatory nonsense, unless she's perched under a wig so good that Paul Daniels could cry.

Federer 3-1 Soderling
Stefani looks like she's brought husband Rossdale with her, who I believe spent his early years a few miles north-east in Shepherd's Bush. Better from Soders, coming to the net behind a deep slicer to pop away a drop-volley and then doing the same behind a big serve to get himself on the board.

Federer 3-0 Soderling
Fed has set off like a man who wants to be home and hosed in time for dinner and the Germany v Turkey semi - a wondrous forehand sizzles off his wand and down the line for a Soderbashing winner. Hold up - there's Stefani, parked behind a pair of sunglasses so big they almost need scaffolding to hold them up.

Federer 2-0 Soderling
A rumour sweeps Centre Court that Gwen Stefani is in the VIP seats. I'm craning my neck but I can't see the blinding blonde barnet of the Hollaback Girl anywhere. I'll keep you posted. Fed sets up a deuce with a backhand that's so sliced you expect the ball to fall to ground like a broken Terry's Chocolate Orange, goes to advantage with a crowd-pleasing lob and takes the break when Soders double-faults lamely.

Federer 1-0 Soderling
Encouragment for both players out there. Fed rakes a top-spin forehand down the line for a creamy winner before Sod - I can't call him that - hits back with his beefy forehand. Roger holds with a whipcrack serve.

1640: Bit of banter there from umpire Steve Ullrich to Roger as he meets him at the net. "I don't feel like the best-dressed guy here!" he says, cracking up at his cardigan-based joke. Roger gives him a token smile that's all mouth and no eyes. "You're not too bad," he says, before peeling off his woolly controversy.

1635: Let's leave the cardigan to one side for a while - I wish Roger would too, to be fair, but anyway. Could be a touch tricky out there this afternoon against Soderling, who last year took Nadal to five dicey sets in the third round. Big serve on the Swede too...

(BBC)

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