Roger Federer saved three match points and fought back from a two-set deficit to beat Marin Cilic 6-7 (4), 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (9), 6-3 and reach a record-equalling 11th Wimbledon semi-final on Wednesday.
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Four easy wins against significantly lower-ranked opponents had suggested Federer was playing well but even the Swiss had admitted that he was not yet at 100%, struggling for sharpness, and Cilic, who beat him in the semi-final of the US Open in 2014 on his way to his first grand slam title, took advantage in an impressive first two sets.
2005 Miami Masters F – def. Rafael Nadal, 2-6, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (5), 6-3, 6-1.
Now coached by former Wimbledon champion John McEnroe, Raonic blitzed American 28th seed Querrey, who had stunned defending champion Novak Djokovic in the third round.
After saving three match points in the fourth set, Roger Federer made it through to the semifinals at Wimbledon for the 11th time.
The 27-year-old did not capitalise on a Federer second serve when he had a third match point and despite saving four set points, Cilic faltered on the fifth, netting a forehand allowing Federer to force a deciding set.
Instead, Federer launched a comeback, not from the start of the third set but from deep in trouble in the seventh game, as Cilic opened up three break points to leave him on the brink of victory. He was down two sets and then three break points in the middle of the third set.
Federer had come from two sets to love down only nine times before in his career, and Cilic had a 51-0 after winning the first two sets at Grand Slams, so the odds were against Federer after Cilic jumped out to a two sets to love lead.
He had played well in the first set, hitting 17 winners and twice setting up break points on the Cilic serve.
Federer will play Milos Raonic in the semifinals on Friday. I didn’t play poorly in any way. A few seconds later he was pumping those arms in front of him like a happy kid, which is the way he had played over the last two-and-a-half sets. Plus mentally this is going to give me a hell of a boost.
In a hole against a familiar nemesis, Roger Federer found a new escape route.
“He brought a lot to my game”, he said. “Hopefully I can win a couple more, and that’s it”. “In those situations, I was not getting the best out of me”.
The seven-time champion had to draw on all of his experience in what was a punishing encounter on Centre Court. “I feel like I did a really good job of putting my head down and playing really well today”.
Raonic, who lost to Federer in the 2014 Wimbledon semi-finals, said it was “exciting” and “humbling” to have reached the last four.
After winning the game the Scot incredibly mouthed to his box, “No way I’m losing this match”, and so it proved as Tsonga quickly trailed 4-0.
Once that problem was solved, his quarterfinal against Marin Cilic really could have concluded 45 minutes later, when Federer faced a match point at 5-4 in the fourth.
The other semifinal will feature No. 10 seed Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic against the victor of the Andy Murray-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga match. “It stays in. Next thing you know it’s like you’re still in the match and you can turn it around”.
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Tomas Berdych also booked his place in the semi-final of the tournament as he cruised past France’s Lucas Pouille.
