Favourites make it look easy

Roger Federer and Andy Murray stayed on course for a Wimbledon final clash with straight-sets victories in the quarter-finals today.

Title favourite Federer defeated big-serving Ivo Karlovic 6-3 7-5 7-6 (7/3) to reach his 21st consecutive grand slam semi-final, while third seed Murray was also a winner on Centre Court today, beating wild card Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-5 6-3 6-2.

The British number one spared the crowd the nailbiting tension of his fourth-round win over Stanislas Wawrinka, a five-set epic that finished at 10.39pm under the new roof.

“I’m very happy to come through in straight sets because I had a long one the round before,” said Murray.

“To get to the semi-finals for the first time is nice and I’ll try my best to go further.

“There were quite a lot of errors from both of us at the start. I served very well but from the back of the court it was very, very hot out there today and quick, so there were quite a few mistakes early in the match.

“Once I got the first set I started to settle down and I returned great at the end.”

Ferrero would not be surprised to see Murray pick up his first grand slam trophy on Sunday.

“He has two matches to play, so we cannot say he’s the winner yet,” said the Spaniard.

“He’s playing very well. He’s moving well in this court. He’s serving very well. So of course he has a lot of chances to win.”

Federer was just as impressive against 6ft 10in Karlovic, who had blitzed his way through to the quarter-finals – serving 137 aces and dumping out top-10 duo Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Fernando Verdasco in the previous two rounds.

But it took only four games for Federer to break the Croatian’s serve for the first time in the tournament, and he was rarely troubled thereafter.

“He’s got a phenomenal serve,” continued the 27-year-old. “The way he backs it up with his volleys, it’s quite something.

“It’s not easy to return it but it’s thrilling because at some stage it’s going to get close and that’s why I was very happy the way I was able to play against him today.

“I still got 23 aces (from Karlovic) but where I’m definitely good is when it really matters, and you get maybe only a couple of chances a match.

“I thought it was an excellent match. I’m relieved I’m through.”

Karlovic admitted Federer had been just too good, especially in that fourth game.

The 22nd seed said: “I was a little bit nervous in the beginning. In the first two (sets) he was playing unbelievable. He did not almost give me any chance.”

Federer will next face 31-year-old Tommy Haas, who kept his fairytale run going by knocking out fourth seed Novak Djokovic.

The 24th seed, who had never been past the fourth round in 10 previous trips to Wimbledon, secured a 7-5 7-6 (8-6) 4-6 6-3 victory over his 22-year-old opponent to become the fourth German to reach the semi-finals in the open era.

“It’s unbelievable,” said Haas, who also beat Djokovic to win the warm-up event in Halle.

“There no words for it. I’m playing my best tennis and getting this far is a great feeling. To be in the semi here really is amazing for me.”

Djokovic revealed he felt nervous during the big points and described his return of serve as a “real disaster”.

“I think I’ve played okay throughout the tournament but I haven’t performed that well today,” he said.

“I was solid on my service games but then, when I needed to step it up in the important games, I was too nervous. He took his chances and he played better.”

Murray will play Andy Roddick in the last four after the sixth seed came through a tough five-setter against Lleyton Hewitt, winning 6-3 6-7 (10/12) 7-6 (7/1) 4-6 6-4.

The American had once looked a spent force at the very top level but he has been rejuvenated this year after working hard on his fitness in the off-season, and is now through to his second grand slam semi-final in six months after also reaching the last four in Australia.

Roddick said: “I’m super relieved just coming off the court and really, really happy.

“I hadn’t really been in the grand slam picture much the last two years and now it’s my second semi-final of the year so far so I’m thrilled right now.”

The 26-year-old also paid tribute to his opponent, who has battled back to something like his best form after recovering from hip surgery last year.

“I think Lleyton might have hurt himself a little bit in that fourth set and it’s testament to the type of player he is to have kept going and to have made it such a fight,” added Roddick.