Preview: Holder Federer getting comfortable again at Wimbledon

By Bill Scott Jul 6, 2006, 14:55 GMT

London - Untouchable top seed Roger Federer is settling even deeper into his Wimbledon comfort zone as he prepares to face veteran campaigner Jonas Bjorkman Friday for a place in a fourth consecutive final.

Federer has not dropped a set and lost only two serves in his march so far while the 34-year-old Bjorkman is living a tennis dream he thought he'd never again see.

The Swede who has starred for years in doubles with back-to-back Wimbledon crowns in 2003 and 2004 alongside Todd Woodbridge, earned the second Grand Slam singles semi of his career after the 1997 US Open.

His win over Radek Stepanek means his workload has doubled as he and Max Mirnyi hold down the second seeding in the doubles event.

Bjorkman, one of the last of the serve-and-volley brigade, may be running on fumes when he faces the lethally on-form Federer.

'If You'd asked me two weeks ago, I would have been happy just to come through the first round,' said a surprised Bjorkman. 'Now I'm sitting here, going to play the semis. It's a big shock.

'I've been just trying to enjoy every single moment out there because I know I don't have too many Wimbledons left in me.

'I'm just trying to do the best out of it and have a lot of fun out there.'

It will be more than just fun for Federer, who is running with history as he aims for his 47th consecutive victory on grass. The world number 1 also owns 26 straight matches at Wimbledon including 78 of 82 sets.

Federer, who lost in the first round on three of the four first times he played at the All England club, said he started feeling his way in 2003, the year of his first trophy.

'Before that, I enjoyed coming here but I still had three first round losses after all. But it's not maybe until I passed that quarter-final stage until I got really comfortable, (2003) really opened the door for me to know that I can play incredible tennis on grass.'

Federer owns three wins from three matches with Bjorkman, with the last one coming two years ago.

In the second semi, Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis, who lost the Melbourne final to Federer, will be showing the first form of his career on grass against French Open champion Rafael Nadal.

The smiling Cypriot, who lost in the first round at his first two Wimbledon appearances, has flowered into form, his latest win coming at the expense of 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt.

'I like grass courts, they are pretty good to play on,' said Baghdatis.

'They fit my game. I like to play really aggressive. There's nothing about grass that I don't like,' said the French-trained player.

But Nadal is making fast progrss on the grass as well after dominating the clay season for a second consecutive year.

The world number 2 Spaniard advanced over Finn Jarkko Nieminen 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in a match delayed until Thursday due to rain.