Eurosport - Fri, 03 Jul 20:43:00 2009
Roger Federer reached his seventh successive Wimbledon final after comfortably beating Germany's Tommy Haas in straight sets 7-6 7-5 6-3.
Federer's victory set up an opportunity to win his sixth title at the All England Club, with five-times champion Bjorn Borg among those watching from the stands on Centre Court.
Haas, who had never previously progressed past the fourth round of the tournament, performed admirably but was simply outplayed by his opponent's faultless game.
Federer (pictured) now faces sixth seed American Andy Roddick for the third time in what will be a record 20th Grand Slam final appearance for the Swiss.
The overcast conditions were conducive to dynamic tennis, and both players found impressive power and pace on their serve.
The first set stayed with serve until the tie break, although Haas was twice forced to recover from 0-30 to hold under pressure.
The 31-year-old German was at his most intense, reacting positively to his every mistake, and stayed with Federer despite the Swiss possessing a win percentage of 83 on his first serve.
Federer, playing a record 26th consecutive Grand Slam semi-final, upped his game to take the tie break 7-3 and seal the first set in 46 minutes, with Haas unable to match to his opponent's experience in similar situations.
The 24th seed tried everything to unsettle Federer's rhythm, but only managed a paltry one point on his opponent's serve in his first four service games of the set.
At 5-4 up in the second set, Federer sensed an opportunity at 30-30, and forced a break point with a superb backhand pass, but Haas responded admirably with two big first serves to hold.
With a second tie break looming, Federer put the German under pressure during a spell of unflinching intensity and Haas finally buckled, firing a forehand long on the third set point.
The final set was again an imbalanced affair, as Federer continued to hold serve with consummate ease, while Haas battled valiantly to stay in touch with his opponent.
Federer possessed a dismissive air on his serve throughout, and his consistency saw the onus placed firmly on Haas to stay on level terms.
One comical moment on Federer's serve saw Haas stranded at the net, and as the German frantically waved his arms to distract him, the Swiss missed the open court, but saw the amusing side of his opponent's gamesmanship.
As was often the case in the match, Federer managed to find a new level at the crucial point in each set, and the third was no different.
Haas received an unfortunate foot fault called against him at the start of his fourth service game, and it clearly rattled him as he fired a forehand into the net to present his opponent with two break points.
Despite saving four break points in all, Haas finally caved in, planting a backhand into the net, and Federer was given the opportunity to serve out the match.
The five-times champion sealed his place in the final with an emphatic smash down the line, and raised his arms aloft in jubilation.
Comment 35 - 54 of 94
I'd like to ask Simon Reed what chances he was talking about that Haas has against Federer cos I didn't find any today. Simon Reed better keep his stupid predictions to himself. And YES, Murray never made it all the way to the final.
MARRAYS OOT. F UCK.
THE DROUGHT CONTINUES!
I hope everyone enjoys other great semi 5 setter, cause the final is going to be a 1 sided blowout.Either the figuratively speaking "ugly American" or the literally speaking ugly Scott will just be going thru the motions against Fed. Whichever one will be spent!
all hail the the legend!!!! Fed will kick Murray or Roddicks' @#$% on sunday, slam #15 will be his!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Federer too strong...
Impressive his body language inside the court; He´s the greatest :)
HAIL GREAT ROGER YOU ARE SIMPLY THE BEST PLAYER EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yep, I "worship" Federer's superior technique...I prefer it to Rafa's mainly physical play, what can i do?:)
If anything, it's this superior class that when they both finish, it will have landed Federer about 10 GS more...
But anyway, I like Rafa as well, wish he comes back strong and prove me wrong..
HE AS GUD AT TANNAS BAT A HOS A NASE AN EM LEEK A FACKIN SAWSADGE.
ROGER WHAT CAN I SAY? WOW!!! NOT A SINGLE BREAK POINT CONCEDED ABSOLUTELY IMMACULATE
THE GENUIS THE LEGEND!!!
COME OOOOOOONNN ROGER. Go for it, he is back at his best level....
you could'nt take anything away from nadal but he's playing in an era when the greatest player ever (Fed) is supreme. nadal will never win many wimbeldon's while he;s around. even when he beat him last year he had to do EVERYTHING to beat him. will nadal be able to keep that up every time he faces him? nope doubt it. fed could go on to win another 3 and at last confirm himself as the greatest ever.
I know Federer lost AO. How did I disagree with that?
AO 08(glandular fever), AO 09, that's 2 AO's ago.
Rafa's wins this year were 3 on clay and 2 on hard.
I didn't say he lied abt his back but the back problems been used as a reason many times. But when Rafa has knee problems, Rafa haters call it an excuse.
And yes I always think whatever I want, no need for you to tell me so.
You continue your Fed worship and I will, my Rafa worship.
go go go go go go go go go go go go FEDEX NUMBER 1 forever
The distraction stuff is quite amusing
Yes Ralph, I also wish Rafa will come back healthy. He's a likeable guy overall, a lot more so than Murray for example. Rafa's actually improved recently, before he was doing a few things that annoyed me but he has cut them down recently. Good luck Rafa
GO FEDERER GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
y.soserius,...You are talking nonsense, Federer lost the AO, you will not agree but I don't care.
And yes he was under the effects of mono during Wimbledon 08, not "from two AOs before", but a few months before. And are you saying he was lying about his back? Well you can think whatever you want, if it makes you happy. Rafa did win some tournaments this year, but mainly on clay and look what it took for him to do it. He couldn't play anymore...
But Roger can, how can he do that? Without even sweating or making a single sound? Get to 21 consecutive GS semifinals...Can it be because his technique is so superior to Nadal's?
ANDAY MARRAY HOS A NASE AN EM LEEK PINOKEEO.
A FACKIN BARNT SAWSADGE.
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