Wimbledon - Federer neutralises Karlovic

Eurosport - Thu, 02 Jul 11:50:00 2009

Five-times champion Roger Federer took the sting out of Croatian Ivo Karlovic's venomous serve to win 6-3 7-5 7-6(2) at Wimbledon and reach a 21st straight Grand Slam semi-final.

TENNIS Roger Federer Wimbledon - 0

Karlovic's thunderous serve had not been broken at this year's Wimbledon but the Swiss maestro nullified the 2.08 metres player's key weapon in the fourth game of their quarter-final and the Croat 22nd seed never looked like recovering.

"You expect a tough scoreline all the time, it's not easy to break him we know that so I am happy to have broken him twice and won the match," Federer said in a courtside interview.

"I love the record I have, reaching so many Grand Slam semis in a row. Twenty one is quite a number and it shows how consistent I have been, how injury-free I have been to keep it up for such a long time."

Karlovic had served 137 aces in the tournament before Wednesday and the signs looked ominous when his first serve of the day went whistling past Federer's ears to take his tally to 138.

But Federer got a sighter in the first game and a blistering blocked backhand return in Karlovic's second service game helped the Swiss to the break which he greeted with huge: "Come on!"

A single break was again enough for Federer to take the second set and though the Croatian took the third to a tiebreak the Swiss clinched it 7-3 with a forehand crosscourt winner after an hour and 42 minutes.

He will play Tommy Haas, seeded 24, for a place in Sunday's final, after the German over-powered fourth seed Novak Djokovic 7-5 7-6(6) 4-6 6-3.

Reuters

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  1. I want a Roddick, Federer final, because I think that­­ would be the best match, as Nadal is not in the­­ tournament. The crowd support give an unfair advantage­­ to Murray but even so I think Federer or Roddick can­­ easily get past that and beat the Scot. Federer to­­ win!!

    From ste.brainiac, on Thu 2 Jul 2:41PM

  2. ROGER YOU ARE THE BEST PLAYER EVER!!!!!DON'T MIND­ RAFA HE PLAY TENNIS ON FORCE NOT BECAUSE HE'S­ TALLANT HE WILL BE GONE IN A YEAR MAX 2 AND THEN NOBODY­ WILL REMEMBER HIM BUT YOU , YOU ARE IN HISTORY!!!!!!

    From jossaste_83, on Thu 2 Jul 1:05PM

  3. BoM ur cool and soo right.

    From aus11123, on Thu 2 Jul 11:58AM

  4. Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..........Quite Please,­ "Geniuos at Work"...go­ RF.........................15 Slams in the making,we­ want more................

    From Roger 15 Slams, on Thu 2 Jul 10:49AM

  5. GO ROGER GO, COME ON, ALLEZ ALLEZ, VAMOS LA­ CAMPEAO...
    LOVE XOXO

    From ciliamaximo_30, on Thu 2 Jul 10:04AM

  6. Great job Roger just two more to go, keep up the good­ work and TARAAAAA...
    GO AND MAKE HISTORY IN THE TENNIS,­ GET YOUR 15TH GRAND SLAM TROPHY. WE ARE 100% BEHIND YOU­ NO MATTER THE OUTCOME, YOU STILL HAVE A FEW MORE GS­ DOWN THE ROAD TO GRAB
    LOVE YOU ALWAYS XOXO

    From ciliamaximo_30, on Thu 2 Jul 9:54AM

  7. IgorK, Wow you impress me really! Are you maybe sick?­ Any other problems?

    From ya, on Thu 2 Jul 8:43AM

  8. this is rogerfederer's singnature...

    From Helen A, on Thu 2 Jul 7:19AM

  9. ditto

    From Hatsutking, on Thu 2 Jul 4:05AM
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    From Jeck W, on Thu 2 Jul 3:36AM

  11. I knew this one wouldn't be a problem. Haas and­ Murray are the real problem! But i believe Fed can do­ it! Just need to keep the focus and serve well.­ C'mon Champ!

    From gione.silva, on Thu 2 Jul 2:25AM

  12. Take away Karlovic's serve, there is nothing he can­ do to possibly beat Federer. Well done Federer.

    From Bblee, on Thu 2 Jul 2:06AM

  13. how can anyone suggest murray has an easier draw, the­ bottom line is everyone he has played like the fed­ express they have both beaten and roger has been more­ convincing in his matches so far, and remember rafa­ nadals last minute withdrawel has made murrays side on­ paper look better but if wimbledon was played on paper­ i would have remembered more aggasi vs sampras finals­ than just one.

    From superscot67, on Thu 2 Jul 1:27AM

  14. The only hard game murray will have on the route to the­ final is Roddick. I Really hope Roddick beats him XD

    From Henry H, on Thu 2 Jul 12:37AM

  15. MIKE S YOU ARE STILL IN THIS PAGE, Well Well Well I­­ guess you did not read my message I will remind you­­ again, I know what your problem is and am sorry I have­­ to write it, WE CAN ALL SEE THAT YOU MISS NADAL ALOT­­ AND THE REASON IS BECAUSE HE IS THE ONLY PLAYER THAT­­ CAN MAKE YOU JACKOFF WHILE HE IS STICKING HIS FINGER­ IN­ HIS PANTS. I have always said Nadal will come back­ for­ the US Open and give us a nice tournament but for­ now­ we have Federer playing his very Genius Tennis and­ so­ go and jackoff while looking at the @#$% of your­ dog or­ guess what go to a dvd rental and rent past­ matches of­ Nadal picking his pants SUCKER.

    From stine147, on Thu 2 Jul 12:07AM

  16. MIKE S YOU ARE STILL IN THIS PAGE, Well Well Well I­­ guess you did not read my message I will remind you­­ again, I know what your problem is and am sorry I have­­ to write it, WE CAN ALL SEE THAT YOU MISS NADAL ALOT­­ AND THE REASON IS BECAUSE HE IS THE ONLY PLAYER THAT­­ CAN MAKE YOU JACKOFF WHILE HE IS STICKING HIS FINGER­ IN­ HIS PANTS. I have always said Nadal will come back­ for­ the US Open and give us a nice tournament but for­ now­ we have Federer playing his very Genius Tennis and­ so­ go and jackoff while looking at the @#$% of your­ dog or­ guess what go to a dvd rental and rent past­ matches of­ Nadal picking his pants SUCKER.

    From stine147, on Thu 2 Jul 12:06AM

  17. wow feds draw is SOOOOOO tough!, i havent seen such a­ tough draw in a while :S... haas will be a REAL threat,­ and no disrespect to murray, but his draw is a bit of a­ joke.

    From BoM, on Wed 1 Jul 11:18PM

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    From Give up on the God thing - its a fairystory folks, on Wed 1 Jul 11:06PM

  19. federer had toughest draw , and murray had easiest draw­ i have ever seen!!! ever

    From Jane, on Wed 1 Jul 10:48PM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    stein you sound very knowledgeable on gay sex.....­ hmmmm are you coming on to me" ?

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