Having ended Wawrinka’s bid to become the fifth man in the Open Era to win Wimbledon and French Open in the same year after three-and-a-half hours on court, 21st seed Gasquet will take on defending champion Novak Djokovic in the semis. Gasquet had lost an 8-6 fifth set to Wawrinka in their most recent meeting two years ago at Roland Garros, but refused to suffer the same fate despite failing to serve out the match at 5-3 in the decisive set and being a break point down at 9-all. I thought Andy played as good of a final as you can play. Up to then, Federer had won all 67 games hed served the past two weeks, following 49 in a row at a tuneup tournament in Halle, Germany.
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The last of the Swiss maestro’s 17 grand slam titles reduced Murray to tears on finals day in 2012, though a few months after that Murray beat the Swiss on Centre Court to win Olympic gold. Neither man appears bitter at their realities – they’re well aware that after so many years playing tennis, there is only so much left to give.
“If I go out in the semis, then definitely not”.
“I am older for sure compared to 2007”. I can’t pick a favourite honestly because, yes, Roger is maybe better ranked than Andy.
“Roger’s obviously extremely popular everywhere he goes”, Murray said last night.
“He has an incredible history of success in Wimbledon“.
Andy says: “Try your best and be good to yourself”.
Terrible for Simon yes; but the 11,000-strong chorus of “oohs” and “aahs” that greeted every one of Federer’s 36 winners told its own story.
Simon, whose counter-punching style mirrors Murray’s, was largely defenseless in their first encounter on grass.
Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates after winning his match against Gilles Simon of France at the Wimbledon …
Federer is closing in on a record eighth Wimbledon title and his 18th Grand Slam championship. “I never had a chance”.
“It was hard to have a grip on him”.
The 29-year-old Frenchman reached his second All England Club semi-final – eight years after his first – with a 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 11-9 victory over fourth seed Stan Wawrinka on Wednesday.
Gasquet, 29, watched as Nadal, Djokovic and Murray dominated the ATP World Tour, creating the Big Four with Federer.
It was at this stage in 2014 that Murray exited Wimbledon in an uncharacteristically flat outing against Grigor Dimitrov.
Djokovic was mobbed by fans after a Thursday lunchtime practice session on Court 14, as he geared up for his sixth consecutive grand slam semi-final.
The Serb had to recover from two sets down in the last 16 against South African Kevin Anderson but his crisp passing shots ensured big-serving ninth seed Cilic never got a look in. He improved to 13-0 against the Croat, whose season has been blighted by a shoulder injury.
If ever there’s been evidence that Federer’s appointment of Edberg as a part-time coaching consultant last January has revitalised the 17-time grand slam champion, it’s come in his stylish and seemingly effortless progression to the last four at the All England Club for the 10th time.
Content to play more defensive than Wawrinka, Gasquet nonetheless attacked when given the opportunity.
The early part of the second set was again an enjoyable affair but with both players looking solid on serve, rain again stopped play after the seventh game.
It was an entertaining, epic contest.
“The reality is I played a lot of tennis”, he said.
Pospisil twice was warned by the chair umpire for taking too much time between his service points.
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“It’s very impressive that he’s managed to stay at the top of the game for so long, considering how long he’s been at the top and how many matches he’s played”.
