Wimbledon - Imperious Federer into seventh final

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.

Roger Federer - 2009 Wimbledon semis - 0

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.

Dan Quarrell / Eurosport

Comment 15 - 34 of 94

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  1. Great match Fed ! If he plays like that in the final­ he'll probably win it !
    At least I hope so ! Go­ Roger !

    From hn, on Fri 3 Jul 5:03PM
  2. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    RADGAR FEDARAR HOS A NASE AN EM LEEK A FACKIN SAWSADGE.

    From Donney, on Fri 3 Jul 4:59PM

  3. Roger "the king" !!!!

    From Ian R, on Fri 3 Jul 4:53PM

  4. ...although of course Sampras' 7 weren't­ consecutive!

    From robertcbkrick, on Fri 3 Jul 4:51PM

  5. Errr Brian, if he wins this one he will surpass Sampras­ and be the only one to have won 15! Or do you mean to­ equal him in appearing in 7 Wimbledon finals?

    From robertcbkrick, on Fri 3 Jul 4:50PM

  6. its really hypothetical whether nadal could have beaten­ fed this year seeing as he is injured in which case he­ wouldnt stand a chance however a top fit nadal will­ always be feds nightmare as he has so often proved.­ nadal is the only one out there that makes fed feel­ uncomfortable, against everybody else he knows his­ tennis is so superior that he never really leaves his­ comfort zone only nadal repeatedly pushes him out of­ his comfort zone and that is why the game needs him­ back so much. i really hope the rumours that its worse­ than people originally thought is not the case, even­ fed will miss him as time goes by and should rafa not­ return i see fed doing 2 more years and then retiring­ out of boredom having smashed all tennis records.

    From ralph, on Fri 3 Jul 4:50PM

  7. #21, Yianni P.
    What nonsense! You wrote:"Rafa­ hasn't played as well since...(Wimbledon­ 08)".
    So how come Rafa won the Australian Open,­ Indian Wells, Monte Carlo, Rome and Federer won what­ during this same period? NADA.
    Oh but of cos...Federer­ had glandular fever from 2 Aust Opens ago, backaches­ etc.

    From y.soserius, on Fri 3 Jul 4:48PM

  8. GO.. GO..GO..ROGER YOU ARE THE BEST IN TENNIS. WIN THIS­ ONE AND YOU EQUAL THE
    GREATEST OF ALL GREATS.. PETE­ SAMPRAS. THE BRIT ANDY CANT STAND IN YOUR WAY..
    YOU ARE­ SIMPLY SUPERB.

    BEL pa zed

    From Brian, on Fri 3 Jul 4:36PM

  9. GO.. GO..GO..ROGER YOU ARE THE BEST IN TENNIS. WIN THIS­ ONE AND YOU EQUAL THE
    GREATEST OF ALL GREATS.. PETE­ SAMPRAS. THE BRIT ANDY CANT STAND IN YOUR WAY..
    YOU ARE­ SIMPLY SUPERB.

    BEL pa zed

    From Brian, on Fri 3 Jul 4:34PM

  10. GO.. GO..GO..ROGER YOU ARE THE BEST IN TENNIS. WIN THIS­ ONE AND YOU EQUAL THE
    GREATEST OF ALL GREATS.. PETE­ SAMPRAS. THE BRIT ANDY CANT STAND IN YOUR WAY..
    YOU ARE­ SIMPLY SUPERB.

    BEL pa zed

    From Brian, on Fri 3 Jul 4:33PM

  11. GO.. GO..GO..ROGER YOU ARE THE BEST IN TENNIS. WIN THIS­ ONE AND YOU EQUAL THE
    GREATEST OF ALL GREATS.. PETE­ SAMPRAS. THE BRIT ANDY CANT STAND IN YOUR WAY..
    YOU ARE­ SIMPLY SUPERB.

    BEL pa zed

    From Brian, on Fri 3 Jul 4:32PM

  12. does anyone know if Roger's 7 consecutive finals is­ a record? I mean to get to the final 7 times in a row.

    From DJ, on Fri 3 Jul 4:22PM

  13. Roger is unarguably the greatest Tennis Player of all­ time. I bet he will surpass all records and set a new­ record that will take decades to break. Go all the way,­ the genle Giant. Andy is overhyped! British Press knows­ this and realistically i don't see him surpass­ Rodick.

    From Remy, on Fri 3 Jul 4:22PM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Not all is white in All in England club. There are also­ other colours;

    From Augustine A, on Fri 3 Jul 4:20PM

  15. to #21 you are so right..this year Federer is­ unbeatable..

    From Emiliqn G, on Fri 3 Jul 4:20PM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I think Murray is going to spank Federer... COME ON­ ANDY!!!

    From JSwan, on Fri 3 Jul 4:14PM

  17. I do not think even Rafa could have beaten Roger this­ year. He played his best match ever in last year's­ final and still almost lost it against an error-ridden­ Federer. Rafa hasn't played as well since and­ Federer is more confident and relaxed now. So..small­ chance that even Rafa could have done something in­ Wimbledon against Federer...

    From YiannisP, on Fri 3 Jul 4:11PM

  18. Last time he wasn't in the semis was the French in­ 2004

    From robertcbkrick, on Fri 3 Jul 4:02PM

  19. By the way it's 21 in a row Mr Eurosport!!

    From robertcbkrick, on Fri 3 Jul 4:01PM

  20. In tennis, it's Federer and the rest!!! go RF and­ bring home *W*... we need in the collections.... enough­ of dispute about who is the world greatest... Proff it­ onces and for all.

    From john, on Fri 3 Jul 3:55PM
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