Federer sets sights on seventh title

Roger Federer is one win away from matching the record achievement of his hero Pete Sampras after brilliantly ending his wait to reach another Wimbledon final.

The 30-year-old Swiss was at his sublime best on Centre Court, banishing the Indian sign that defending champion Novak Djokovic had held over him in semi-finals.

World number one Djokovic had won three of their four most recent major semi-finals en route to landing four of the last six grand slams available, but he was abruptly dethroned by Federer yesterday, losing 6-3 3-6 6-4 6-3 in what amounted to a meek surrender of his title.

It was a comprehensive redressing of the balance by Federer who, with a record 16 grand slam titles already to his name, will win a seventh Wimbledon should he be victorious tomorrow .

That would take him level with Sampras, a man he cites as one of his idols.

Federer replaced the American as the sport’s leading force when he won his first SW19 crown in 2003, and reaching an eighth Wimbledon final sets a record.

Standing alongside Sampras as a seven-time winner now beckons, and Federer said of the prospect: “Everybody knows what a hero he is to me and how much I admire what he’s been able to achieve in tennis.”

While Sampras had a perfect record in Wimbledon finals, Federer’s is slightly blemished. Having won five in-a-row, he lost a classic to Rafael Nadal in 2008 before returning to take a sixth a year later.

It appeared as though his star had started to wane by that point, though, with the likes of Djokovic and Nadal moving in at the head of the game.

Theirs became the great rivalry, with Federer, despite his lengthy list of achievements, relegated to the role of bystander, especially as he bowed out of Wimbledon – previously a tournament he ruled with an iron fist – at the quarter-final stages in 2010 and 2011.

Much of the build-up had centred around a perceived rift between the two players, but neither added credence to that school of thought.

Djokovic did become flustered in his post-match press conference, though, saying: “You really like talking about Roger. Every time I get asked questions about him.”

Meanwhile, Federer last night said he was relishing the prospect of crashing the party when he takes on Andy Murray.

Federer has always been a favourite of the Centre Court crowd, but he may have few supporters against Murray, seeking a maiden grand slam title at the fourth time of asking.

Federer accepts he will receive fewer cheers than his opponent, but is looking forward to facing the local hero regardless.

“I always say that whatever country I am in, I like to play the local hero and that’s what Andy is here at Wimbledon,” Federer said.