London - Roger
Federer and Rafael Nadal set up a Wimbledon semi-final blockbuster on
Wednesday, 11 years after their epic 2008 title duel which is widely
regarded as the greatest Grand Slam final ever played.
Eight-time champion Federer racked up his 100th match win at
Wimbledon and reached his 13th semi-final with a 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4
defeat of Japan's Kei Nishikori.
The 37-year-old will be playing in the semi-finals of a major for the 45th time.
Nadal, the two-time champion, made the last-four for the seventh time
and 32nd at the Slams, by beating Sam Querrey 7-5, 6-2, 6-2.
Friday's semi-final will be the pair's 40th meeting and third at
Wimbledon after Federer won the 2006 and 2007 finals before Nadal swept
to his famous 2008 triumph.
The other semi-final will see four-time champion and top seed Novak
Djokovic tackle Roberto Bautista Agut, the 23rd Spaniard who has made
the last-four at a major for the first time.
Federer is also the oldest man to make the semis of a major since Jimmy Connors at the 1991 US Open.
"We have a lot of information on Rafa and so does he about us. I know
people always hype it up in a big way," said 20-time major winner
Federer.
"They did that again in Paris this year (when Nadal won their
semi-final in straight sets). I'd love to play against him here at
Wimbledon.
"But I go about it like every other match."
Nadal, who was also champion in 2010, broke Querrey six times, sent
down 10 aces and 44 winners in a convincing display which will give him
great hope of beating Federer for the 25th time.
"It's great (to be facing Federer at Wimbledon again)," said
33-year-old Nadal whose recent 12th Roland Garros victory took him to 18
Slam titles.
"It's difficult to imagine to be again in that situation and here we
are. I'm excited to play against Roger here at Wimbledon again after
such a long time."
Djokovic reached the Wimbledon semi-finals for the ninth time,
racking up his 70th career win at the All England Club in the process.
The defending champion hit back from a break down in the first set to
carve out a commanding 6-4, 6-0, 6-2 win over 21st seed David Goffin of
Belgium.
In a ruthless display, Djokovic reeled off 15 of the last 17 games to
secure a place in the semi-finals of the majors for the 36th time.
Next up is Bautista Agut, who made
his first Grand Slam semi-final with a 7-5, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory over
Argentina's Guido Pella.
"He started well and was dictating play from the baseline," 32-year-old Djokovic said of Goffin.
"Things could have gone a different way if I had lost the first set but I was very pleased with the second and third.
He added: "I had a tough match in the third round (against Hubert
Hurkacz). Other than that, I've won in straight sets and played really
well throughout the tournament.
"It's exactly what I wanted and hopefully I can go in the right direction in the semis as well."
Goffin was on top in the early stages as he sensed the opportunity to
become the first Belgian man to make the semi-finals at a Slam since
Xavier Malisse at Wimbledon in 2002.
He broke for a 4-3 lead but 15-time Slam winner Djokovic then reeled
off the next nine games, taking the first set, and the second in which
he allowed the Belgian just four points on his serve.
The contest was over by the time Djokovic broke for a 3-1 lead in the third set.
"Even if you play well, it's not enough because he continues to play
deep, close from the line, left, right. He was everywhere," said a
shattered Goffin.
Bautista Agut, 31, booked his first appearance in a Slam last-four at
the 27th attempt by seeing off Pella, who had never previously reached a
quarter-final at the majors.
"Novak is the number one in the world and he's playing really well on
grass," said Bautista Agut, who has a 3-7 record against the Serb.
However, two of those wins came this year in Doha and Miami.
Wimbledon results on Wednesday (x denotes seeding):
Men
Quarter finals
Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) bt David Goffin (BEL x21) 6-4, 6-0, 6-2
Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP x23) bt Guido Pella (ARG x26) 7-5, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
Rafael Nadal (ESP x3) bt Sam Querrey (USA) 7-5, 6-2, 6-2
Roger Federer (SUI x2) bt Kei Nishikori (JPN x8) 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4
Wimbledon men's singles semi-finals line up (x denotes seeded player):
Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) v Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP x23)
Rafael Nadal (ESP x3) v Roger Federer (SUI x2)