Federer downs Nadal to set up Djokovic duel for Wimbledon title

Agence France-Presse

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Federer downs Nadal to set up Djokovic duel for Wimbledon title

AFP

'I'm exhausted, it was tough at the end,' says Roger Federer after winning the blockbuster semifinal match against rival Rafael Nadal

 

 

LONDON, United Kingdom – Roger Federer reached his 12th Wimbledon final on Friday, July 12 (Saturday, July 13, Philippine time) defeating old rival Rafael Nadal, 11 years after the Spaniard triumphed in their epic 2008 title showdown at the All England Club, a match widely regarded as the greatest ever played.

The 37-year-old eight-time champion won 7-6 (7/3), 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the pair’s 40th career meeting to move into his 31st Grand Slam final where he will face defending champion Novak Djokovic.

Top seed and four-time winner Djokovic reached his sixth Wimbledon final, and 25th at the majors, with a nervy 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 triumph over Spain’s 23rd seed Roberto Bautista Agut.

“I’m exhausted, it was tough at the end. Rafa played some unbelievable shots to stay in the match, it was a very high level,” said Federer.

“The battles with Rafa are always special. The biggest points went my way, there were some tight ones in the long rallies.”

Federer is the third oldest man ever to play in a Grand Slam final after 39-year-old Ken Rosewall featured in the 1974 Wimbledon and US Open finals.

However, he will have his work cut out on Sunday if he is to secure a 21st major title as he trails 15-time Slam winner Djokovic 25-22 in career meetings.

“Novak is the defending champion and he has shown that this week,” added Federer.

“He has been really solid. I will try and push him to the brink but it will be difficult as it’s not for nothing that he is No. 1.

“But I am very very excited to say the least.”


 

Friday’s semifinal was never likely to match the knife-edge theatrics of the 2008 final although Federer needed 5 match points to secure victory.

Federer will not mind with his win coming just a month after Nadal handed him his worst loss at a Slam in 11 years in the Roland Garros semifinal.

In a tight 51-minute opener, Nadal managed to save the only break point in the 8th game before surrendering the advantage of an early mini-break in the tiebreaker which Federer claimed thanks to 5 points in a row.

The Spaniard finally carved out the first break of the semifinal in the 4th game of the 2nd set, backing it up with a hold for 4-1.

Nadal then broke again for 5-1 as Federer suffered a sudden and severe power outage with the two-time champion comfortable leveling the contest.

Federer, the oldest semifinalist in a Grand Slam semifinal since Jimmy Connors at the 1991 US Open, broke Nadal for the first time in the 4th game of the 3rd set.

He then fought off 3 break points for a key 4-1 lead, coming out on top in a 23-shot rally and then a 25-stroke exchange.

There was no respite for Nadal, an 18-time Slam winner, who slipped a break down at 2-1 in the 4th.

Nadal saved two match points in the 8th game and two more in the 10th but a loose return sealed his fate.

Federer finished with 14 aces and 51 winners. – Rappler.com

 

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