Roger Federer eases through to Wimbledon semis Reuters

Prev

• 
• 

Next

View gallery

ROGER FEDERER is holding all the aces after making it 21 consecutive grand slam semi-finals. And, on this form, there's not a chance of him sticking on 21.

The 14-time grand slam champion made Ivo Karlovic, the 6ft 10in Croat, look very small during a routine 6-3 7-5 7-6 quarter-final win as the Swiss chases a sixth Wimbledon crown.

And Federer, who faces Tommy Haas on Friday, said of his semi-final record: “It means a lot to me. Just being so consistent for so long and reaching it again, it’s amazing.

“It’s hard to believe I achieved it because looking back it’s not just looking back on a few weeks or a month or a year or so, it’s really way back now.

“And even before that I was in finals. I won a major before that as well.

“But it’s been quite a streak I’m on and I’m happy it’s still alive.”

Federer has also welcomed the resurgence of some of tennis’s older statesmen after Andy Roddick, Lleyton Hewitt, Ivo Karlovic, Juan Carlos Ferrero and Tommy Haas – all over 25 – reached the last eight.

The 27-year-old second seed said: “I’m very happy so many guys have made it through to the second week.”

He added: “I like a good mix, because it’s not always just the young guys and me. Sure, it’s cool once in a while but I still like to play the guys who I used to play when I came up and who were my main rivals for many years.

“It seems like it’s really exciting.”

If Murray is to topple the great man, he will need to do something very special – a fact not lost on Federer.

“Where I’m definitely good is when it really matters,” Federer said matter-of-factly. “And you get maybe only a couple of chances a match.

“During a match I’m there and I know I will believe in it. The opponent knows it too.

“I’m trying to create, trying to make it as difficult as possible for my opponent, especially if it’s a big-server like Karlovic today.

“Then you’ve got to pick the right side sometimes as well. But I think this is where I might have the edge over some other players.”