Federer wins Swiss duel

Roger Federer reached a ninth Wimbledon semi-final after beating his great friend Stan Wawrinka in an all-Swiss battle on Centre Court.

The seven-time champion has never lost at the last-four stage at the All England Club and gave himself the chance to reach another final after taking national bragging rights with a 3-6 7-6 (7/5) 6-4 6-4 victory.

With Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray already out, there was a point on Wednesday afternoon when both Federer and Novak Djokovic – the other members of the ’big four’ – were in danger of tumbling out too.

Djokovic dug himself out of a deep hole to see off Marin Cilic, though, and Federer seized charge against Wawrinka once he levelled the contest in their second-set tie-break

Wawrinka, who had been struggling physically, dug deep at the end to save four match points.

But on the fifth Federer followed up a scorching serve, that Wawrinka did well to float back, with a lethal smash from mid-court.