Federer on course for final

Wimbledon champion Roger Federer was on course to book his place in the men’s singles final on Sunday when rain interrupted his match against Sebastien Grosjean on Centre Court for a second time this evening.

The Swiss top seed was leading by two sets to love and was 4-3 ahead with his French opponent about to serve in the third when rain swept across the All England Club.

Federer was leading 3-2 when the players were first driven off the court at 1.30pm for a four-and-a-half hour delay.

Tournament organisers eventually moved the other last-four clash between second seed Andy Roddick and Tim Henman’s conqueror, Mario Ancic, onto court one just after 5pm.

The American had claimed the first set 6-4 and was a break up at 4-3 in the third, although unseeded Croatian Ancic had break point at 30-40 in the eighth game when rain stopped play at 7.15pm.

Officials faced the prospect of both men’s semi-finals spilling over into tomorrow, when women’s champion Serena Williams is due to defend her title against 17-year-old Russian Maria Sharapova.