Day 9

Super Federer dismantled Ivo Karlovic; German Haas Ousts Djokovic In Quarterfinals; Crowd Favourite Murray Strolls Past Ferrero; Roddick outlasts Hewitt in five sets.

Semi final show down:

Roger Federer Vs Tommy Haas
Andy Murray Vs Andy Roddick


Five-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer reached his 21st consecutive Grand Slam semifinal on Wednesday with a majestic 6-3, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3) dismantling of giant Croatian Ivo Karlovic.

Federer, bidding for a sixth All England Club title and a record 15th major, will now tackle German veteran Tommy Haas, who stunned Serbian fourth seed Novak Djokovic 7-5, 7-6 (8-6), 4-6, 6-3, for a place in Sunday’s final.

British third seed Andy Murray, meanwhile, saw off Spain’s former French Open winner Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 to reach his first Wimbledon semifinal. The 22-year-old, bidding to become Britain’s first home men’s champion since Fred Perry in 1936, faces two-time runner-up Andy Roddick for a place in the final.

“It’s difficult against Karlovic because there aren’t many baseline rallies on his serve or mine,” said Federer after his 1hr 42min Centre Court win. “To be in my 21st consecutive major semifinal shows how consistent I have been and injury free. I’m playing well at the moment but there are some big matches to come.”

Going into Wednesday’s clash, Karlovic hadn’t dropped serve in the tournament, had won 79 service games in four rounds and faced just four break points. But second seed Federer ended that streak in the fourth game when a sumptuous backhand return followed by a sublime forehand pass gave him the first break against the 6ft 10in (2.08m) Croatian to lead 3-1.

That quickly became 4-1 against a player he had already defeated eight times in nine matches. Federer wrapped up the opener after 23 minutes having conceded just three points in four service games.

By comparison, 30-year-old Karlovic, the 22nd seed, suffered a dramatic powercut. Having fired a huge 137 aces to reach his first Grand Slam quarterfinal, he managed just three in the first set and won just 14 points on the Federer serve in the entire tie. Federer broke again for a crucial 6-5 lead in the second set before racing through the third set tie-break to claim his place in a seventh successive semifinal.

Murray became only the third British man to reach the Wimbledon semifinals in the Open era after racing past wildcard Ferrero in an hour and 41 minutes. “There were quite a lot of errors from both of us at the start,” said Murray who sent down 18 aces. “Once I had got that first set I started to settle down and I returned great in the end.”

Haas will be playing his first Wimbledon semifinal at the 11th attempt thanks to his win over Djokovic who he also defeated in the Halle grasscourt final. The German, a former world No. 2 who has been plagued by injuries, dug deep to save three set points in the second set tie-break and despite a third set recovery by the Serbian, Haas stayed on course to become the oldest champion since Arthur Ashe in 1975.

“I have no words to explain this,” said Haas who was two sets ahead against Federer in the French Open fourth round last month before the Swiss hit back.


America vs Russia

Wimbledon could be headed for another all-Williams final. Then again, it could be an all-Russian affair. The Williams sisters are one round away from another Grand Slam championship showdown, but they will first have to get past Russian opponents to set up their eighth meeting in a major final and fourth in the Wimbledon title match.

“I would love it to be a Williams final, and so would she,” five-time champion Venus said, referring to younger sister and two-time winner Serena. “That would be great.”

Third-seeded Venus, going for her third straight Wimbledon championship, will be up against No. 1 Dinara Safina in Thursday’s semifinals. Serena, seeded No. 2, will face No. 4 Elena Dementieva.

The Williams siblings go in as solid favourites. They have put on a clinic of power tennis so far, showing why they have been the dominant force at the All England Club for most of the decade.

“Do I feel invincible?” Venus said after blasting Agnieszka Radwanska 6-1, 6-2 in Tuesday’s quarterfinals. “I’d like to say yes, but I really do work at it.” Only once in the past nine years has there been a Wimbledon women’s final that didn’t feature at least one of the Williams sisters. That was 2006 when Serena was absent injured.

They have faced each other in three Wimbledon finals, including last year. Serena won the first two, in 2002 and ‘03. They are 10-10 in career meetings and have played in seven Grand Slam finals, with Serena winning five.

The Williams sisters have sailed through the draw so far without dropping a set. Venus has lost only 20 games in five matches, Serena 25. “We have a great game,” Serena said after beating Victoria Azarenka 6-2, 6-3 on Tuesday.

“We have strong serves. We have pretty good returns. Just solid all-around court players. We both move pretty well. That’s a pretty solid game.”

Venus said the sisters thrive at Wimbledon not only because of their attacking, punishing styles. “I do have strategy,” she said. “Maybe it doesn’t look like it but I do. That’s my secret weapon, that it doesn’t look like I’m thinking, but I am.”

Venus has shown no let-up in her aggressive style despite wearing a bandage on her left leg. She has been reluctant to discuss whether she has a knee problem. “I’m doing well, thank you,” she said after Tuesday’s match.

One person who is convinced the sisters will meet for the title on Saturday is their father, Richard. “They are both playing super well,” he said. “They’re playing ‘The Williams Way.’ And when you’re playing ‘The Williams Way,’ it’s very difficult for anyone to touch you.”

Venus has a 2-1 career edge over Safina, though the Russian won their most recent meeting in three sets on clay at the Italian Open in May. “I know what she’s doing,” Safina said. “I know her weapons. I have my weapons. If I play my best, and she plays the best, it’s 50-50 who’s going to win the match.”

Safina, who has lost in three Grand Slam finals and never won a major, will have to keep her serve in the court if she has any chance of beating Venus. Safina served 15 double-faults — including three in a row in one game — before finishing off Germany’s Sabine Lisicki 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-1 in the quarters.

“Sometimes even I don’t know what I’m doing with my serve,” Safina said.

Serena is 5-3 against Dementieva. They met at Wimbledon in the fourth round in 2002, with Serena winning 6-2, 6-2.

Dementieva lost to Venus in last year’s Wimbledon semifinals. Now playing in her 43rd Grand Slam tournament, the 27-yearold Russian hasn’t dropped a set so far. “This time I’m going to play a different player and it’s going to be all new,” Dementieva said. “I just want to see how tough I can be out there against her, just looking for some good fight.”

Roddick edges Hewitt to return to Wimbledon semis

Because of the stakes: a return to Wimbledon’s semifinals. Because of the opponent: 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt. And because of the circumstances: a five-set grind that began under a bright sun and concluded in shadows, 3 hours, 50 minutes later.

When it was over, having finally figured out a way to get past Hewitt 6-3, 6-7 (10), 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-4, Roddick let out a sigh and raised a fist, then threw his racket down, sat in his changeover chair and covered his face with his hands.




Wimbledon 2009 Men's Quarterfinals

Roger Federer (2) def. Ivo Karlovic (22) 6-3, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3)
Andy Murray (3) def. Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-5, 6-3, 6-2
Novak Djokovic (4) vs. Tommy Haas (24) 5-7, 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 3-6
Andy Roddick (6) def. Lleyton Hewitt 6-3, 6-7 (10-12), 7-6 (7-1), 4-6, 6-4