WIMBLEDON 2017 UPDATE – ROGER FEDERER BEAT TOMAS BERDYCH • TO PLAY MARIN CILIC WHO BEAT SAM QUERREY

Written by: Staff on 14th July 2017

WIMBLEDON 2017 UPDATE - ROGER FEDERER BEAT TOMAS BERDYCH • TO PLAY MARIN CILIC WHO BEAT SAM QUERREY

epa06088095 A Security guard stands in a gate on centre court during the semi final match of Roger Federer of Switzerland and Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic, of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 14 July 2017. EPA/PETER KLAUNZER EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES/NO ARCHIVES |

Federer keeps rolling into Wimbledon final, Cilic ends Querrey’s run in semis

By Ricky Dimon

Roger Federer is through to his 11th Wimbledon final and is one win away from an eighth career title at the All-England Club. Federer put himself in prime position to lift the trophy yet again after beating Tomas Berdych 7-6(4), 7-6(4), 6-4 in Friday’s second semifinal. The 35-year-old fired 13 aces and served at 67 percent while advancing in two hours and 18 minutes.

In terms of number of games, this was Federer’s most competitive match of the tournament. Still, the Swiss has not yet dropped a single set because he continued to raise his level in crucial moments. Federer took each of the first two tiebreakers without much trouble against Berdych.

The 18-time Grand Slam champion avoided a trio of ‘breakers by earning a scalp of the Czech’s serve at 3-3 in the third. He held his next two service games both at love to clinch victory in style.

“I thought it was close,” Federer noted. “Even though I feel like it reminded me of the matches I’ve had this tournament on some occasions, there were chances for the opponent. I was able to come up with the goods when it mattered. The ‘breakers…I played good in the ‘breakers. (I) never played with any sense of panic, which is so important when it gets to crunch time.

“So, yeah, it was the toughest match. I guess so, yes. It was close. I’m happy I won all these big points today.”

Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic reacts after losing against Roger Federer of Switzerland during their semi final match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 14 July 2017. EPA/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA

Berdych wasn’t as sure about his competitiveness.

“Close or far doesn’t really matter,” the 2010 Wimbledon runner-up said. “The score is important, and that shows pretty much straightforward.”

As usual, there was nothing straightforward about another showdown at the All-England Club between Marin Cilic and Sam Querrey. Their third head-to-head contest at Wimbledon seemed destined to become their third five-setter, but Cilic made a late charge to finish the job 6-7(6), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-5 after two hours and 56 minutes.

Playing in his first Grand Slam semifinal after losing in the Wimbledon quarters last summer, Querrey led 4-2 in the fourth set with a chance to take it to five. But the 28th-ranked American was broken from 30-0 up at 4-3 and Cilic struck again for victory with a forehand winner as his opponent served at 5-6, 30-40.

“I would say my mental toughness was on an extremely high level, considering that both of us played amazing tennis in the first set,” the Croat said of recovering from his early deficit. “The level was absolutely unbelievable from both ends. Then just to come short in that tiebreak, I was 4-1 up, and Sam made a few good points. I was a little bit unlucky on a few challenges. Lost that set.

“But I managed to regroup and felt that mentally in the critical situations I was really good, even having a break down in that fourth set. I managed to turn it around. I would say I played throughout the match really a high level.”

Sam Querrey of the USA in action against Marin Cilic of Croatia during their semi final match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 14 July 2017. EPA/GERRY PENNY

“Marin is just really good,” Querrey admitted. “I mean, he’s tough on both sides. I kind of felt like he pushed me around a little bit today. I had that break in the fourth. When he broke me back, he just played a great game. You know, kind of deflated me a little bit. But he just does everything really well.”

Cilic will have to do that again on Sunday when he battles Federer for the title. It is a rematch of last year’s quarterfinals, which Federer won after trailing two sets to love.