GA_googleAddSlot("ca-pub-1197233282945943", "Star_Sports_Skyscraper");

Sports

Thursday July 2, 2009

Fedex star whips Karlovic and Murray strorms into semi-finals

Five-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer reached his 21st consecutive Grand Slam semi-final yesterday with a majestic 6-3, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3) dismantling of giant Croatian Ivo Karlovic.

Federer, bidding for a sixth All England Club title and a record 15th major, will now tackle German veteran Tommy Haas, who stunned Serbian fourth seed Novak Djokovic 7-5, 7-6 (8-6), 4-6, 6-3, for a place in Sunday’s final.

Flying high: Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates after beating Ivo Karlovic of Croatia in the quarter-finals yesterday. — Reuters

British third seed Andy Murray, meanwhile, saw off Spain’s former French Open winner Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 to reach his first Wimbledon semi-final.

The 22-year-old, bidding to become Britain’s first home men’s champion since Fred Perry in 1936, faces either 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt or two-time runner-up Andy Roddick for a place in the final.

“It’s difficult against Karlovic because there aren’t many baseline rallies on his serve or mine,” said Federer after his 1hour 42 minutes Centre Court win.

“To be in my 21st consecutive major semi-final shows how consistent I have been and injury free. I’m playing well at the moment but there are some big matches to come.”

Going into yesterday’s clash, Karlovic hadn’t dropped serve in the tournament, had won 79 service games in four rounds and faced just four break points.

But second seed Federer ended that streak in the fourth game when a sumptuous backhand return followed by a sublime forehand pass gave him the first break against the 6ft 10in Croatian to lead 3-1.

That quickly became 4-1 against a player he had already defeated eight times in nine matches.

Federer wrapped up the opener after 23 minutes having conceded just three points in four service games.

Murray became only the third British man to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals in the Open era after racing past wildcard Ferrero in an hour and 41 minutes.

“There were quite a lot of errors from both of us at the start,” said Murray who sent down 18 aces.

“Once I had got that first set I started to settle down and I returned great in the end.” — AFP

  • E-mail this story
  • Print this story

Sports Poll