Ancic hopes for Federer repeat

Mario Ancic is hoping history can repeat itself as he prepares for his Wimbledon quarter-final clash with defending champion Roger Federer.

The seventh-seeded Croatian made certain of a place in the last eight on Monday with a gruelling five-set victory over Novak Djokovic in the baking heat at SW19.

Ancic’s next challenge is a meeting with world number one Federer, who is looking to win his fourth successive title at the tournament and maintain his record-breaking unbeaten run on grass.

His last defeat on the surface came at the All England Championship in 2002 in a first-round meeting with Ancic, and the Croatian is now keen to repeat that success when the two meet again on Wednesday.

“It’s great to have a chance again on such a big stage to play against Roger,” Ancic said.

“It’s a great feeling that at the end of the tournament I am playing against a great player. That’s my main goal.”

However, Ancic is aware the world number one will be a different prospect this time around.

“It was four years ago, so I think we have both changed a lot,” he continued.

“He has won Wimbledon three times, so it’s a new match.”

Ancic was made to work hard for the honour of a place in the last eight, coming from behind in his fourth-round clash against Djokovic before eventually securing a 6-4 4-6 4-6 7-5 6-3 win over the Serbo-Montenegrin.

And Ancic believes his 19-year-old opponent is definitely one for the future having also reached the quarter-finals at this year’s French Open, where a back injury forced him to concede his match against eventual champion Rafael Nadal.

“I think today was a great match,” Ancic said. “It could have gone either way.

“He’s a great up-and-coming player. I think he has a great future. I mean, he’s already here. With these results I think very soon he’s going to be top 20, top 10. He has everything.”