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've been promoting the idea of a gay Wimbledon on­ this blog. Where do you stand on the idea, Mike? Would­ you like it? I know how hard it is for you being in the­ closet. It's not so bad when you're out, love!­ I'll hold your little hand for comfort!

    From gaypeterkin, on Wed 1 Jul 6:46PM

  2. Oooh! Roger, you beauty. You are so dominant!

    From gaypeterkin, on Wed 1 Jul 6:37PM
  3. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    i wont shut up because federer is bent and rafa kicks­ his backside any day

    From mike, on Wed 1 Jul 6:29PM

  4. Bravo, Roger, it is quite signoficant that he is­ beating in the last few games everybody who was­ detrimental for his game in the last year. Now next is­ Haas who also made his life miserable, and it's­ time for a payback, after which is Murray's­ turn...

    GO ROGER!!

    From Alexei, on Wed 1 Jul 6:18PM

  5. Karlovic primary weapon is his serve. Unfortunately,­ his serve was his only weapon today. I have never seen­ Federer serve so good in the past. He gave all his­ energy on the serve as it is expected that he wont be­ employing much effort on the baseline battle. I am­ amazed of his backhand return on a cannon ball serve­ from Karlovic. Karlovic on the other hand was worse in­ his return, just the worst ive seen in the tour. As­ expected the game was nothing but a big bore. Hope Haas­ will put up an entertaining fight next for Fedex.

    From Ray V, on Wed 1 Jul 6:16PM
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Roger's game is becoming predictable. He is almost­ becoming boring like Pete Sampras was. Same strategy­ all the time

    From Doh, on Wed 1 Jul 6:15PM

  7. mike you'd better shut up

    From tristani j, on Wed 1 Jul 6:10PM

  8. bow down to federer

    From ozlenhakan, on Wed 1 Jul 5:52PM

  9. mike, I understand your frustration.
    21 (that's­ twenty one) semifinals in a row is a very large­ number.
    And we shouldn't be too harsh on F^ckervic.­ He has propably stopped the most impressive record in­ tennis history; had he lost his australian open­ semifinal last year, Roger would now have 16­ consecutive final appearances, battling on Friday to­ make it 17.

    From bulls_on_parade_7, on Wed 1 Jul 5:22PM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    i have a job, pretty good one actually and that still­ doesnt detract from the fact that federer is bent and­ you guys are waynkers FACT

    From mike, on Wed 1 Jul 5:19PM

  11. mike
    if all tennis fans are waynkers why do you bother­ yourself and come to our threads to post your poor­ comments we won't bother by your comment ,go and­ get a job baby :)
    sucess haters full the thread but­ whatever happened Federer lover even if they are'nt­ his fans will always support him and be beside him
    go­ and get this trophy no one deserve to be the history of­ this game except you ,you deserve to be the no.1 ,i am­ sure wou will win it isa

    From ola azmy, on Wed 1 Jul 5:17PM

  12. Mike No. 34 - you are one big sicko. If you don't­ have anything constructive to say get off this forum­ and get a life!

    From Pkenn, on Wed 1 Jul 5:16PM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    MURRAY WILL WIN A SLAM . . .

    HEE HEE HEE HEE HEE HEE­ HEE HEE HEE HEE HEE . . .

    From JEEMS, on Wed 1 Jul 5:13PM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    rafa is better end of

    From mike, on Wed 1 Jul 5:12PM

  15. i hope its a federer murray final, so federer can put­ that little @#$% in his place

    From mrcrocodilemr01, on Wed 1 Jul 5:12PM

  16. SORRY MIKE WHERE'S RAFA? EXACTLY!!!
    DON'T HATE­ THE GENUIS!!

    From faizul, on Wed 1 Jul 5:11PM

  17. YER MON KALOVAK AS WAN HIGH MOLER FACKAR.

    From Donney, on Wed 1 Jul 5:08PM

  18. A SAY, HE WEEPED THA FLUR WATH EM. OND THAN A GOT THA­ HOOVER OOT OND FANASHED THA JAB.

    From Donney, on Wed 1 Jul 5:07PM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    face it federer is NO match for rafa

    From mike, on Wed 1 Jul 4:54PM

  20. Igor K dont comment anything stupid for your own­ writing is your stupidity....

    From chielschoenmaker, on Wed 1 Jul 4:54PM
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