FEDERER TAKES VINTAGE FORM INTO SEMIS

A CONNOISSEUR of the finer things in life, multi-lingual Milos Raonic is regarded as one of the more cerebral figures in tennis.

But ask the Canadian who will win Wimbledon this year and the answer is uncharacteristically blunt: Roger Federer.

Blown off centre court by a merciless Federer, Raonic said quarter-final victories by Sam Querrey, Marin Cilic and Tomas Berdych virtually amounted to nothing with the Swiss star still in contention.

Federer, seven-time champion and winner of 18 majors, towers over his remaining rivals. And after overcoming back and knee injuries, Federer is finding tennis a simple — and rewarding — pursuit once more.

“This year I’m just a normal tennis player again where I can focus on tactics. I think that’s the difference,” he said.

“I’m playing very well. I’m rested. I’m fresh. I’m confident, too. Then great things do happen.”

Raonic was stunned by the difference in Federer’s movement from last year’s semi-final to yesterday’s quarter-final.

“Yeah, he’s moving well,” Raonic said.

“I think the thing I was most impressed with, at least the years I’ve been on tour, he was extremely sharp mentally always in the right moments, just always on top of things. He kept a very high gear the whole entire time without giving many real glimpses. I think that was the most sort of defeating thing. I did everything I could. I tried. He’s doing a lot of things well.”

Federer will tonight face 2010 runner-up Berdych for a place in Sunday’s final.

Raonic said Federer, rejuvenated by two long breaks (one enforced, the other voluntary) in the past 12 months, was playing better than ever.

“I think the most significant thing is he’s mentally sharper and I think he’s moving better,” Raonic said.

“I think he’s just in better position. He has more freedom to do it.”

Berdych will carry a 6-18 win-loss tally into the match, having beaten Federer at Wimbledon in 2010 en route to the final, where he lost to Rafael Nadal.