Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
DAY ELEVEN FROM THE OFAGES ALL ENGLAND CLUB
Federer’s bidding to win a record-breaking EI GH TH title at the age of
era, aged 35 years and 342 days. World No.15 Berdych played
ROGER FEDERER reached
his part in a semi that was not
a record 11th Wimbledon
quite as one-sided as the
final and claimed he could
straight-sets defeat might
not believe another title
suggest, and he refused to go
was within touching
down without a fight.
distance.
The Czech beat Federer here Federer saw off Czech Tomas in 2010, en route to his only Berdych 7-6 7-6 6-4, to set up a ever major final. But there was showdown tomorrow against never any danger of a repeat. Marin Cilic and a shot at a As good as Berdych (below) record eighth SW19 crown. was, Federer was simply better And the 35-year-old said: with his ability to turn it on at “I feel very privileged to be in will and leave the Centre Court another final. I’ve got the crowd gasping at some of his pleasure to play on Centre often audacious winners. Court another time. The first two sets were nip “I can’t believe it’s almost and tuck, and Federer needed true again. I’m happy to 7-4 and 7-3 tie-break have a day off to successes to win reflect on what I’ve them. But he always done at the had the edge, with tournament.” Berdych struggling What he has to make much of a done is continue to dent on the seventime defy the clock and, champions’ serve, at the same time, raise especially in the first set, the bar to reach a record while having to work seriously 29th grand slam final, all hard to hold his own. without dropping a set Berdych won just seven here. points on Federer’s serve in the The Swiss’s decision first set – five coming in the to skip the clay court one game he secured a break season so he was fresh – while one game took a for his favourite slam dominant Federer just 48 has paid off handsomely. seconds to rattle off. And who Already two sets up, Federer would bet against seized a crucial advantage in the SW19 fans’ the seventh game of the third, favourite setting a game after saving two break a few more points himself, to break records in Berdych and take a 4-3 lead. tomorrow’s And he served out the match, sealing victory when showpiece? Berdych sent a forehand crashing into the net.
Not only Now for the final, his history would he bid and Cilic. He said: “Last become the first time at Wimbledon, we had a man to win brutal quarter-final – I was two Wimbledon sets down. I had to get lucky to eight times, he win. Marin is a great guy. In his would also be first Wimbledon final. the oldest to “He crushed me at the US triumph here Open a few years ago – I hope in the Open he doesn’t play that good.”