Roger Federer went where
Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic could not as the Swiss eased into the Wimbledon
semi-finals by beating Milos Raonic in straight sets.
Federer
walked out on Centre Court after Murray’s shock defeat to Sam Querrey and then
saw it announced on screen that Djokovic had retired injured from his match
against Tomas Berdych.
But
there were no surprises for the 18-time major champion, who kept his hopes of a
record eighth Wimbledon title alive with a 6-4 6-2 7-6 (7/4) victory.
Federer
incredibly made just three unforced errors during two dazzling sets, and while
he dipped briefly in the third, even Raonic never looked convinced of a
comeback.
Murray’s
loss and Djokovic’s withdrawal means Federer is now the overwhelming favourite
to secure what would be a 19th grand slam title.
The
35-year-old will play Berdych, over whom he holds a seven-match winning streak,
and joins Querrey and Croatia’s Marin Cilic in the last four.
Raonic
had stunned Federer over five sets to reach the final here 12 months ago but
while the Canadian has been struggling with injury this season, Federer looks
somewhere close to his brilliant best.
This
was his 100th match at Wimbledon, and in a tournament that was supposed to
herald the return of the game’s ‘big four’, only Federer is left standing in
what will be his 12th Wimbledon semi-final.
The
Centre Court crowd was still digesting Murray’s injury-affected exit when the
players walked out but Federer was happy to accelerate the process, unleashing
two blistering backhand passes in Raonic’s opening service game.
Federer
snatched a break for 3-2 with a whipping forehand winner and served out with an
ace after just 31 minutes.
The
second set was even more straightforward as Raonic wafted a forehand wide to
concede another early break before Federer’s ripped backhand winner caught the
line for 5-1. Never satisfied, he still went to change his racket.
With
games in hand, Federer began to enjoy himself and some spectators even bowed in
appreciation when another volley of forehands rained down on Raonic.
The
third set was the closest of the three and, after an hour and 10 minutes,
Raonic earned his first break point. Federer had to save four more at 4-3 but
save them he did and Raonic was made to pay in the tie-break.
An
ace brought up Federer’s first match point and that was all he needed as a
predictable victory was confirmed on the most unpredictable of days.
Earlier,
Marin Cilic rained down 33 aces as he reached the semi-finals for the first
time with a five-set win over Gilles Muller.
Croatian
world number six Cilic has been tipped for the title since day one by his
compatriot and former coach Goran Ivanisevic, the 2001 champion at the All
England Club.
And he showed the tenacity that may be required to take the next step into the final as he beat Rafael Nadal’s conqueror Muller 3-6 7-6 (8/6) 7-5 5-7 6-1 on Court One.
It took three and a half hours for Cilic to fend off 34-year-old Luxembourg left-hander Muller, but the effort paid off as he teed up a surprise semi-final clash with Sam Querrey.
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