Roger Federer returned to the semi-finals after a two-year absence with a sparkling display to crush Mikhail Youzhny. The Swiss, still seeking a record-equalling seventh title at the All England Club after losing in the quarter-finals in 2010 and 2011, produced an hour and a half of Centre Court magic to set up a last four clash with defending champion Novak Djokovic who was no less impressive in beating Florian Mayer. Six-time winner Roger Federer will play defending champion Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals at Wimbledon after both men breezed through their quarter-finals on Wednesday.
Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray & Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Wimbledon Semis
An imperious Federer beat Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny 6-1 6-2 6-2 in an hour and 32 minutes on Centre Court. Federer, 30, earned a record 33rd Grand Slam semi-final berth and moved closer to a record-equalling seventh Wimbledon title with a one-sided win. Federer showed no sign of the back ailment that prompted him to seek treatment during the first set of his fourth-round match against Xavier Malisse. He converted his fifth break point in the second game and 26th seed Youzhny had few answers from that point on. Federer roared into a 4-1 lead and after a short rain delay wrapped up the first set in 28 minutes.
Djokovic beat Florian Mayer 6-4 6-1 6-4 in an hour and 44 minutes on Court One. It is the sixth time in the last eight Grand Slam tournaments that third seed Federer and top seed Djokovic have met in the final four. Djokovic has won four of those encounters, although they have never met on the grass of Wimbledon before.
Andy Murray was made to dig deep but battled past David Ferrer in four sets to set up a Wimbledon semi-final clash with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.The British No. 1 lost the first set on a tiebreak before nicking the second set, again on a tiebreaker. A single break of serve was enough in the third set, while another tense and tight fourth set again went to a tiebreaker following a frustrating rain delay. Murray emerged victorious and is now just one game away from a first Wimbledon final appearance. He will play Tsonga in the semi-finals on Friday after seeing off Ferrer 6-7, 7-6, 6-4, 7-6.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beat Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 to reach his second Wimbledon semi. The 27th seed, playing in his first Grand Slam quarter-final, posed Tsonga problems in a tense encounter on Court One, but the flamboyant fifth seed eventually prevailed and will play Andy Murray in the last four. The flamboyant French player knocked out Roger Federer in the 2011 quarter-finals after being two sets to love down before losing to eventual champion Novak Djokovic in the last four.Defending a 5-1 career record against Kohlschreiber, Tsonga eventually ran away with the quarter-final clash after battling through three tight sets, his 43 winners and 17 aces proving decisive on Court One.
We can expect an action-packed end to the Wimbledon, with semis to be conducted on 6th July 2012.
Tags: Andy Murray, Grand Slam, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Semis, Tennis, Wimbledon
