London - Roger Federer and Scot Andy Murray edged closer to
a dream Wimbledon final for the host nation as both hammered home
straight-set wins into the semi-finals, with the Swiss breaking new
ground in the record books.
The second seed reached his 21st consecutive Grand Slam semi at
the expense of Croatian serving machine Ivo Karlovic, whose 23rd ace
saved a match point but could not hold back a 6-3, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3)
Federer win.
Federer is now two victories away from setting the all-time mark
for the most Grand Slam singles titles, 15, one more than himself and
Pete Sampras currently hold. He levelled with the American by winning
his first French Open last month.
But he is putting all thoughts of records out of mind after
getting past the game's premier server.
'Sure it's not easy to return it, but it's thrilling because at
some stage it's going to get close,' said Federer. 'That's why I was
very happy the way I was able to play against him today.
'I thought it was an excellent match. I'm relieved I'm through.'
The Swiss broke the fearsome Karlovic serve twice in their contest,
which runs his record against the towering Croatian to 9-1.
Murray took control against former number one and one-time French
Open holder Juan Carlos Ferrero to send the veteran Spaniard home
7-5, 6-3, 6-2.
Federer will play a re-run of his French Open fourth-round
five-setter against Tommy Haas, after the German put out world number
four Novak Djokovic 7-5, 7-6 (8-6), 4-6, 6-3.
Murray, who showed no fatigue from a Monday night marathon win in
the first night match at the All England club, will face a huge test
in two-time finalist Andy Roddick.
The American sixth seed whose game has ben revamped this season by
a change of coach, outlasted 2002 winner Lleyton Hewitt 6-3, 6-7
(10-12), 7-6 (7-1), 4-6, 6-4 in a shade under four hours of battle.
Roddick fired 43 aces with Hewitt notching 21. The American got a
late break for 5-4 in the fifth and ended the struggle when Hewitt
sent a volley from the net over the baseline.
'Roddick, along with Karlovic, is one of the best servers in the
game,' said Murray. 'Against him I'll obviously need to return very
well.'
Federer has now won his last 17 matches over the past two months.
'During a match, I'm there, and I know I will believe in (myself).
The opponent knows it, too. I'm trying to create, to make it as
difficult as possible for my opponent, especially if he's a big
server like Karlovic today,' said the confident Swiss.
'I'm playing very consistently and injury-free,' said the father-
to-be whose wife Mirka was in the stands perhaps a month from her due
date.
'I've played well this week and I'm moving into a position to win
the event again,' added the five-time champion who was beaten in the
2008 final by Rafael Nadal.
'I really couldn't be more confident with my game, I'm coming in
on a win streak. Maybe I'd be more confident if I'd won last year,
but I have a great feeling on the court. Whatever comes in the
semi-finals will be difficult.'
Haas goes into the Federer match after winning the grass event at
Halle. 'That for me was huge anyway. No matter what happens here, I
felt like I'm just going to go, play, and see if I can continue on
playing the way I did in Halle.
'Winning a title there on home turf was huge.'
USA
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