Federer reaches record 20th grand slam final
Switzerland's Roger Federer has booked his place in his seventh consecutive Wimbledon final after a straight-set win over Tommy Haas.
The world number two will play Andy Roddick from the United States, who triumphed over Britain’s Andy Murray in Friday’s other semifinal.
Seeming to get stronger with every match, Federer took advantage of his breakpoint chances to subdue the 31-year-old German 7-6 (3), 7-5, 6-3 in just over two hours.
Federer never faced a break point as he beat 24th-seeded Haas for the ninth straight time to reach his record 20th Grand Slam final, pulling out of a tie with Ivan Lendl.
“I’m very happy with my performance and it’s unbelievable to back into another Wimbledon final,” Federer said.
“I’ve had a lot of pressure over all the years, so this is just another great match, great opportunity for me to get into the history books.”
Federer is the first man to make it to seven consecutive Wimbledon finals in the history of a tournament that began in 1877.
He has won 18 straight matches as he closes in on his 15th major title. By winning the French Open last month, Federer completed a career Grand Slam and tied Pete Sampras with 14 major championships.
Federer said he would be happy if Sampras came to Wimbledon to watch him try to break his record. Sampras is currently at home in California looking after his two young sons.
“He might come, he might not,” Federer said. “It’s his choice. I’d love to see him because he’s a good friend of mine. Very honoured of course that I share the record of 14 with him.”
Effortless
Haas served superbly and held his own against Federer but couldn’t break through. The Swiss, as cool and calm as ever, made it look effortless. He seemed to bide his time, winning all his service games easily and just waiting for the moment to break.
Federer, who had 11 aces, was never even taken to deuce on serve and won 22 out of 24 points on serve in one stretch.
He won 89 per cent of the points on his first serve and 81 per cent on second. Federer had 49 winners to only 15 unforced errors, while Haas had more errors than winners: 31 to 28.
With no breaks in the first set, the tide turned in the tiebreak when Federer hit a reflex backhand service return winner to go up 5-3. Haas then made a forehand error and Federer won the next point on serve to take the set.
Haas saved two set points on serve at 4-5 in the second set, but sent a forehand long on another break point two games later to hand Federer a two-sets-to-love lead.
The third set was decided when Haas double-faulted to set up a third break point of the eighth game, then sliced a backhand approach into the net. Federer served out the match at love and finished with a flourish – leaping high into the air for a smash reminiscent of Sampras in his heyday at Wimbledon.
On the record
If Federer wins on Sunday, he will be the third player to win six or more Wimbledon titles. William Renshaw and Sampras both won seven.
“It’s not the only reason why I’m playing tennis, because mostly because I love it and I enjoy playing tennis, but sure, going for something that big this coming Sunday, it’s quite extraordinary,” he said.
What’s more, if he beats Roddick, Federer will regain the No. 1 ranking from Rafael Nadal, who beat him in the Wimbledon final last year and missed this year’s tournament with knee problems.
Federer said he was feeling less pressure this year than in 2007 when he equalled Björn Borg’s record of five straight Wimbledon titles. Borg was among those watching on Friday from the Royal Box.
“For some reason that meant the world to me,” Federer said. “I was like in a bubble for two weeks, just trying to achieve it. So this time around I think I’m much more relaxed.”
swissinfo.ch and agencies
In 2001 Federer ended Pete Sampras’s 31-match winning streak at Wimbledon in the fourth round of the tournament.
By winning Wimbledon in 2003, Federer joined Stefan Edberg, Pat Cash and Björn Borg as the only players to win both the juniors’ and men’s Wimbledon championships.
Federer has won five consecutive men’s singles titles at Wimbledon (2003-2007), a feat only ever accomplished by Borg.
Pete Sampras holds the record for the total number of Wimbledon wins with seven.
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