Federer heads to Wimbledon finals

Roger Federer eyes the ball during his semi final match against Richard Gasquet Keystone

Swiss tennis number one Roger Federer has won his Wimbledon semi final against Frenchman Richard Gasquet with a score of 7-5, 6-3, 6-4.

Federer, the four time defending champion, will meet arch rival Spaniard Rafael Nadal in Sunday’s final. A win would mean the Swiss would equal Björn Borg’s five consecutive Wimbledon victories and 11 grand slam titles.

Nadal, who lost to Federer in last year’s final, set up a rematch when the number four Novak Djokovic retired while trailing 3-6, 6-1, 4-1, in the other semi final.

Federer, watched by Swedish legend Borg, was never threatened by the 12th-seeded Gasquet after he edged a tight first set with a solitary break in game 12. The match was over in just one hour and 44 minutes.

“The first set was crucial,” Federer said after the match. “He should have at least got to the tiebreaker. I came out somehow and played really well for ten minutes and was up a set and a break, and that was pretty much it after that.”

The 25-year-old Federer went into Saturday’s game with a 5-1 match record over the 21-year-old Gasquet, who was appearing in his first grand slam semi final.

The Swiss had been expected to meet old rival Andy Roddick. But the United States number three seed was surprised by Gasquet in the quarter finals after the Frenchman staged a dramatic fightback.

It has been a long road to the finals for Federer. Rain – it has been one of the wettest Wimbledon tournaments on record – has delayed play.

Federer had to wait five days to play his quarter final against Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero. His fourth round opponent, Tommy Haas, withdrew because of injury.

After Saturday’s win, the Swiss could now be on target to accomplish his dream of five consecutive Wimbledon titles. Borg won Wimbledon from 1976 to 1980.

Pete Sampras, who won half his record 14 grand slam titles at Wimbledon, was stopped at four in a row – by Federer in 2001.

swissinfo with agencies

In brief

This year at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, which has hosted Wimbledon since 1877, men and women will earn equal prize money and there will be instant replay on giant video screens.

Centre Court and No. 1 Court will be equipped with technology for the Hawk-Eye challenge system, allowing electronic reviews of close calls.

At the US Open and Australian Open, players were allowed two incorrect challenges per set – if a call is overturned, the player keeps that challenge – plus an extra one if there’s a tiebreaker. At Wimbledon, players will be given three per set, plus an extra one for a tiebreaker.

This year the men’s and ladies’ singles champions will each receive £700,000 (SFr1.73 million). The male purse has increased by 6.9% (£655,000 in 2006), while that of the ladies by 12% (£625,000 in 2006).