Wimbledon, England (Sports Network) - Wimbledon champion Roger Federer,
former world No. 1 Novak Djokovic and Wimbledon runner-up Andy Murray moved
into the semifinals at the Olympic Games tennis event at the All England
Club.
The reigning No. 1 Federer snuck past 10th-seeded 6-foot-9 American John Isner
6-4, 7-6 (7-5) on the famed Centre Court, where the super Swiss captured a
men's-record-tying seventh Wimbledon title last month.
The match ended in 1 hour, 25 minutes and Federer recorded the only break of
the affair to grab a 5-4 lead in the opening set. The match came to an end
when a Federer backhand return clipped the net cord and trickled over for
a winner.
Federer avenged a stunning February Davis Cup setback in his native
Switzerland at the hands of Isner and is now 4-1 lifetime against the towering
American.
The 30-year-old Federer owns a men's-record 17 Grand Slam titles, but needs a
victory this week to secure the career "Golden Slam."
Federer's semifinal opponent will be eighth-seeded Argentine slugger Juan
Martin del Potro, who stunned the Swiss great in the 2009 U.S. Open final in
New York.
The second-seeded Djokovic, who captured a bronze medal in Beijing four years
ago, handled fifth-seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-1, 7-5 in a
quarterfinal on Centre Court.
Djokovic tallied 22 winners and topped Tsonga in 1 hour, 20 minutes by
breaking the Frenchman four times, compared to only one break for Tsonga. The
Serb broke the Frenchman for a 6-5 edge in the second set and then closed out
the quality match on his serve.
The powerful Djokovic is the reigning Australian and U.S. Open champion who
coughed up the No. 1 ranking to Federer last month.
Meanwhile, cheered on by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and
his wife Kate, the third-seeded Murray blew past 11th-seeded Spaniard Nicolas
Almagro 6-4, 6-1 on Court 1.
The rout was over in 59 minutes, as a dazzling Murray clubbed 15 aces and was
not broken on Day 6 of this nine-day tournament. The Brit smacked 23 more
winners (29-6) than the overmatched Almagro, who battled a sore right shoulder
in the setback.
Murray lost to Federer in his first career Wimbledon final last month in this
London suburb.
The four-time Grand Slam runner-up Murray will meet Djokovic for a 14th time,
with the Serb leading their all-time series, 8-5, including a 2-1 record this
year. The 25-year-old good friends have never met on grass.
The aforementioned 6-foot-7 del Potro stopped 15th-seeded rising Japanese Kei
Nishikori 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) on Court 1.
Del Potro will face Federer for a 15th time, seeking only a third win (2-12).
Federer is already 5-0 versus the Argentine this year and has won six straight
against the tall South American.
The Sports Network