One King deposed, the other to reclaim his crown?
WIMBLEDON – Roger Federer defeated reigning Wimbledon champion, and world No. 1 Novak Djokovic 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the first of the Gentlemen’s Semifinals.
The Swiss took himself into his eighth Wimbledon final, and is set for a tilt at a seventh title, to equal Pete Sampras.
The match was played under the roof, as the day started with rain in SW London, but the change in conditions did not affect Federer who got off to a commanding start.
Djokovic leveled things up in the second, but the tipping point seemed to be a lax service game in the third set, after which he admitted he dropped his intensity.
Djokovic said: “In the start of the fourth set I dropped in the energy level, I thought.
“I played really a couple of sloppy games, very slow, with no pace.”
He attributed that lapse to making it very hard for him to come back, as Federer imposed himself on the match.
At some stages, Djokovic was hardly moving his feet.
“I didn’t recover from that drop of serve,” he said, “after that it was really difficult to come back.”
Federer had the momentum from the third set, on what was the first encounter between these men, on grass.
Federer said: “I was able to be very aggressive, particularly once I did get into the third set where I thought we both played our very best.
“Now looking back, that was obviously the key to the match.”
With so many records achieved, Federer could possibly equal Sampras’ record of seven titles, but was quick to point out that there was still a match to go.
He said: “I’m very proud to have a shot of equaling Pete, but right now the focus is obviously resting and preparing for the next match.”
The second semifinal will provide Federer with either his conqueror from last year, Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, or the home favorite Andy Murray, chasing history himself.
“For the finals, of course I’d love to play Murray.” I always say in whatever country I am I like to play the local hero,” he said, “even though I like Jo very much.”
As he waits to find out who his opponent will be on Sunday, his final thoughts were on the job in hand.
“My run has been extremely good.
“Now I have a chance at world No. 1, at the title again all at once.
“So it’s a big match for me and I hope I can keep my nerves.”
Ros Satar is a British Journalist- an IT journalist by day, and a sports journalist in all the gaps in between. She is the co-founder of Britwatch Sports (britwatchsports.com). Follow her on twitter at @rfsatar.