ROGER FEDERER moved into the third round at the All England Club as he chases his record-extending ninth championship there, using close-to-impeccable serving to beat 73rd-ranked Lukas Lacko of Slovakia 6-4, 6-4, 6-1.

The Swiss champion was at his breath-taking best as he crafted 48 exquisite winners during a 90-minute masterclass that seemed more an exhibition of his shot-making than a charge towards a record ninth Wimbledon title.

The last time Federer turned up to defend his crown, in 2013, he suffered a shock second-round humbling by Sergiy Stakhovsky.

There was no danger of a repeat performance Wednesday, however, and a forehand swish on match point gave the top seed a 26th consecutive set at the grasscourt major.

“On certain days it goes better than others,” summed up a grinning Federer, who will be seeking a 10th successive win at the All England Club when he takes on Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff in the third round.

Lacko had probably hoped he could throw some curve balls Federer’s way after enjoying a run to the Eastbourne final at the weekend.

Unfortunately, it was the Slovakian who was left dodging the majestic missiles that kept raining down on his half of the court.

The top seed belted down 16 aces, hit the target with 70 percent of his first serves, dropped only three points on his first serve and did not even come close to facing a break point.

Federer fired three of those aces in a row to take the second set and he got his 15,000-strong Center Court fan club gasping in astonishment as he produced a ridiculous backhand drop shot from behind the baseline.

With Federer having an elegant answer to everything Lacko could throw at him, it was not until the 20-time Grand Slam champion walked off court that he was finally stumped.

Meanwhile, Wimbledon No. 2 seed Caroline Wozniacki was defeated 4-6, 6-1, 5-7 by unseeded Russian player Ekaterina Makarova on Wednesday, marking the fifth top eight seed to be eliminated through the first three days of the 2018 competition.

In the third set, Makarova went up 5-1 and had four match points while serving up 5-3, but Wozniacki battled her way back to 5-5. However, Makarova was able to hang on and win 7-5.

Notably, play was paused mid-match as Wozniacki was attacked by a swarm of flying ants.

Makarova is the reigning Wimbledon doubles champion, as she won the 2016 title with partner Elina Vesnina. This win marks the second time Makarova has defeated Wozniacki in a one-on-one matchup; the other time was in the 2017 U.S. Open.

Makarova is a former top-10 player, and in addition to Wozniacki, has previously defeated the Williams sisters in Grand Slam play.

In addition to Wozniacki, No. 4 seed Sloane Stephens, No. 5 seed Elina Svitolina, No. 6 seed Caroline Garcia, and No. 8 seed Petra Kvitova have been eliminated.

(SD-Agencies)