Fed Express still on course

ROGER FEDERER remained on course to claim a fourth consecutive Wimbledon title after cruising into the semi-finals with a straight-sets victory over Mario Ancic on Centre Court.

The world number one and top seed was again in superb form during a match which was interrupted by showers at the All England Club. Ancic, seeded seventh, put up a spirited challenge, but simply had no answer to the range of strokes produced by the Swiss ace, who completed a highly-impressive 6-4 6-4 6-4 victory in a total of one hour and 45 minutes on court.

As well as the delays for rain, Federer also had to contend with a brief stoppage caused by two fathers’ rights campaigners. .

“I was prepared for a difficult match because I knew he could be very dangerous,” Federer, 24, said.

“I am even more surprised to come through so convincingly.”

Federer declared: “I definitely got on a roll. Usually rain delays slow you up but they really got me going. I came out of the blocks each time.”

The clash between Radek Stepanek, the 14th seed, and Jonas Bjorkman went into five sets on Court One.

As a consequence, the All England Club announced, just before 7.30pm, that world number two Rafael Nadal would now not play his scheduled quarter-final against Jarkko Nieminen of Finland. That means the young Spaniard faces the potential of two matches in as many days if he is to reach the last four today.

It was Bjorkman — at 34 the oldest player left in the draw — who eventually came through after four hours and three minutes to book a showdown with Federer.

The Swede, whose previous best at SW19 was reaching the last eight in 2003, held his nerve to win a crucial fourth set tie-break and then closed out the match 7-6 (7-3) 4-6 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 in the fading light.

A tearful Bjorkman admitted: ``To be playing in a semi-final at 34 is a dream come true for me. I did not believe I had any left in me.

“I just wanted to stay on court and hug everybody. I wanted to enjoy every moment out there.”

Meanwhile, should Nadal get through to the semi-finals today, the 20-year-old will meet Marcos Baghdatis. The Cypriot – who knocked out Britain’s Andy Murray in the last round - produced a superb display to beat 2002 Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt in four sets.

Baghdatis, 21, had only played in the main draw at the All England Club once before in 2005, but reached the final of the Australian Open earlier this year and has now broken into the world’s top 10.

He said: “I was bit tired, but I am so happy to get through. It is an unbelievable emotion for both me and my parents. I hope to feel them again.”