Wimbledon 2018: Roger Federer outclasses Lukas Lacko to reach third round of The Championships

The reigning champion secured an effortless 6-4 6-4 6-1 victory over the Slovak

It's a reality we've grown well accustomed to, but one that continues to defy belief.

Serving up yet another Centre Court spectacle, Roger Federer's dominance here at Wimbledon showed no signs of fading as he brushed past Slovakia’s Lukas Lacko with a typically flawless display.

The result means the eight-time champion has now racked up 27 consecutive sets at SW19 in a run of nine successive wins that stretches back two years.

It was a comfortable victory for the Swiss, who rarely looked to exert himself against the world No 44.

Winning 6-4 6-4 6-1 in 90 minutes, Federer showcased the best of his talents as he kept Lacko at arm's length with his impressive range of shots.

The 36-year-old dominated the run of play through his baseline strokes, knocking Lacko back and forth across the court with ease, while his service prevented Slovak from building up any momentum.

Federer's serves may lack the thumping power of his big-hitting rivals but their pin-point precision offers his game another dimension.

Indeed, the Swiss didn't drop a single point on his serve in the entire second set and kept that streak going until he was 30-0 up at 4-1 in the third, when Lacko sent a backhand winner down the line. In total, Federer fired down a total of 16 aces to Lacko's six.

Federer had too much class for his opponent (Getty)

"I felt good, less nervous than in the first round," Federer said after the match.

"Lacko can play well on the grass, he's won his fair share of matches. Not wasting too much energy in the first matches is nice to have. From my end I'm very happy."

Lacko did well to minimise the damage in the first two sets but it was during the third that the gulf in quality between the two men was laid bare.

The Slovak was broken three times as his shot-making unravelled against the consistency of Federer's own strokes, as summed up by the neat forehand swish on match point that brought the curtain down on this match.

With a ninth Wimbledon title firmly in his sights, Federer will face either Croatian Ivo Karlovic or Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff in the third round.