Gasquet a realist among giants

RICHARD Gasquet admits it — he is the tennis equivalent of the worst house in the best neighbourhood.

The No. 20 Frenchman is the lowest-ranked player in the Wimbledon semi-finals and his record and reputation dims in comparison to his three counterparts. Gasquet will today face world No.1 Novak Djokovic, leaving world No.2 Roger Federer to clash with world No.3 Andy Murray.

The Big Three boasts 27 majors titles, 10 at Wimbledon.

At 29, Gasquet is on a career second wind. He last reached this stage back in 2007.

“I’m proud because there are big players in semis,” he said after toppling world No.4 Stan Wawrinka 6-4 4-6 3-6 6-3 11-9 to reach the last four.

“I’m the worst when you see Federer, Djokovic and Murray and me.

A former prodigy, Gasquet has never quite fulfilled his potential, regarded more highly for the aesthetics of his game rather than its substance.

While spectators drool over his backhand, tennis hardheads bemoan his flakiness — until he climbed off the canvas to deny Wawrinka.

He enters his 14th clash with defending champion Djokovic with one win from 13 previous contests.

“It’s important for me to think I can win,” Gasquet said.

“That’s the most important — to go on the court and think you can win.”

Defending champion Djokovic powered into his sixth successive Wimbledon semi with a 6-4 6-4 6-4 demolition of US Open winner Marin Cilic.

Doubly determined to succeed after losing the French Open final to Wawrinka, Djokovic said his five-set fourthround escape against Kevin Anderson has energised his campaign.

“That has lifted me up in a way. It allowed me to really feel like I’ve encountered already the toughest match situations.”

Seven-time champion Federer and 2013 champion Murray clash for the 24th time. The ledger is 12-11 in Federer’s favour.

The pair shared the All England Club’s spoils in 2012 when Federer won the most recent of his 17 majors by beating Murray in the Wimbledon final.

Weeks later, Murray avenged the defeat by claiming gold in the Olympic final on the same court over Federer.

Late last night in the first women’s semi-final, Agniezka Radwanska and Garbine Muguruza were locked in a tight battle in their third set.