Fri, Jul 10, 2015 page20

• Federer, Murray to face-off in London

  CENTRE COURT HISTORY: In 2012, Roger Federer won his 17th Grand Slam title by beating Andy Murray, who, a few weeks later, defeated Federer to claim the Olympic title

  • AP, LONDON
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  Roger Federer and Andy Murray ran into each other on Wednesday morning in the champions’ locker room at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, then walked together over to the practice area to prepare — on adjacent courts — for their respective quarter-finals later in the day.

  “We weren’t chatting about anything. It was just: ‘Hey, how you doing?’ Nothing interesting,” Murray said. “We get on well, but obviously, on Friday — different story.”

  Yes, they will meet up again today, only the setting will be far different and things might be a tad less cordial, because the two past Wimbledon champions face each other on Centre Court in the semi-finals.

  

  Britain’s Andy Murray chases down a return against Vasek Pospisil of Canada in their Wimbeldon men’s singles quarter-final in London, England, on Wednesday.

  Photo: AFP

  Second-seeded Federer is closing in on his record eighth trophy at the grass-court tournament, while third seed Murray’s 2013 championship was the first for a British man at Wimbledon in 77 years.

  Plus, they have history on this particular patch of grass. In 2012, Federer won his 17th — and, to date, last — Grand Slam title by beating Murray in the Wimbledon final. A few weeks later, also on Centre Court, Murray repaid the favor, beating Federer for the singles gold medal at the Olympic Games.

  “We both like to look back at that summer,” said Federer, who is 12-11 against Murray. “Me, not so much at the Olympics; him, probably not so much at Wimbledon.”

  

  Switzerland’s Roger Federer returns to Gilles Simon of France in their Wimbledon men’s singles quarter-final at the All England Lawn Tennis Club in London on Wednesday.

  Photo: EPA

  Both advanced in men’s singles quarter-finals slowed only by a pair of rain delays.

  Federer’s 116-hold streak in service games, dating to his previous tournament, ended, but that was merely a blip during a 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 victory over 12th seed Gilles Simon of France. Murray was hardly troubled at all by a weary Vasek Pospisil of Canada and won 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 in a match that finished with the retractable roof closed on Centre Court, in front of an audience that included Prince William and his wife, Kate.

  Another past champion, top seed Novak Djokovic, was also barely tested, eliminating ninth seed Marin Cilic of Croatia 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to improve to 13-0 against last year’s US Open winner.

  

  France’s Gilles Simon serves to Roger Federer of Switzerland in their Wimbledon men’s singles quarter-final in southwest London, England, on Wednesday.

  Photo: Reuters

  Djokovic, who won Wimbledon in 2011 and last year, plays 21st seed Richard Gasquet of France next.

  Gasquet emerged from the most compelling quarter-final — featuring two beautiful one-handed backhands — with a 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 11-9 win over fourth seed Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland.

  “It was great to watch them go backhand-to-backhand today,” said Djokovic, who is 11-1 against Gasquet. “Some great points, great exchanges.”

  Until Gasquet dropped to his back at the baseline when French Open champion Wawrinka’s last backhand sailed long, it appeared it might be the first Wimbledon semi-finals in 20 years involving the men seeded one to four.

  Gasquet truly is an interloper, the only remaining man without a major title. Never been to a final, even.

  “I’m the worst,” Gasquet said with a smirk. “When you see Federer, Djokovic and Murray and me.”

  He will be in his third Grand Slam semi-final.

  Djokovic, by contrast, owns eight major championships and reached his 27th major semi-final, his sixth in a row at Wimbledon.

  “Obviously, the experience of being in these final stages of Wimbledon many times is going to help me,” Djokovic said.

  Imagine how Federer feels.

  He is into his 10th Wimbledon semi-final (he is 9-0) and his 37th at all majors (25-11).

  “I’m very proud of my achievements here, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not like something I walk around, beating my chest, saying, like: ‘I’m great here,’” said Federer, who turns 34 on Aug. 8.

  Federer, runner-up to Djokovic last year, needed only 95 minutes to dispatch Simon.

  The most noteworthy moment came when Federer served for the second set at 5-4. Up to then, Federer had won all 67 games he had served the past two weeks, following 49 in a row at a tuneup tournament in Halle, Germany. Simon broke Federer at love, looked to the guest box and shook his right fist.

  “Played a perfect game,” Simon said later.

  Meanwhile, Federer was “relieved” to get broken, saying: “I guess we’re not going to talk about that anymore.”

  It certainly did not throw him off against Simon. Federer broke right back, then served out the set this way in a game interrupted by rain after the first point: 201kph ace, 185kph service winner, 175kph ace, 196kph ace.

  “I don’t serve 140s [225kph], let’s be honest,” Federer said. “I have to work my way through those service games.”

  So far, so good. Now Murray will try to solve that serve.
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