Tomas Berdych has completed the Wimbledon quarter-final line-ups with a thrilling five-set fourth-round win over Czech countryman Jiri Veseley.
The two combatants were locked up at two sets all when darkness stopped play on Monday before 10th seed Berdych returned to squeeze out a 4-6 6-3 7-6 (10-8) 6-7 (9-11) 6-3 victory.
Runner-up to Rafael Nadal in 2010, Berdych’s reward is a tilt at first-time grand slam quarter-finalist Lucas Pouille on Wednesday.
The winner of that match will play either British title favourite Andy Murray or 12th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Friday’s semi-finals.
Second seed Murray remains on track to reach his third final at the All England Club after crushing Australian hopes with a 7-5 6-1 6-4 thumping of Nick Kyrgios.
“It was a dangerous match. I was very switched on from the start,” Murray said after not offering Kyrgios a single break point in an ominous display on centre court.
“I’m fully aware of how difficult my next opponent is as well. I know Tsonga is one of the best grasscourt players in the world.”
Tsonga progressed to his fourth Wimbledon quarter-final when Richard Gasquet lasted just six games before succumbing to a back injury trailing 2-4 in their all-French fourth-round affair.
Seven-times champion Roger Federer admitted to eyeing an elusive 18th grand slam crown after moving majestically into a record-equalling 14th quarter-final with a 6-2 6-3 7-5 dispatch of American Steve Johnson.
The victory was his 306th at the grand slams, matching Martina Navratilova’s all-time record mark, and drew Federer level with Jimmy Connors as the equal-most prolific men’s quarter-finalist ever to grace London’s hallowed grass courts.
“Never thought I was going to have such a great career here at Wimbledon ever since I turned up here in ’98,” Federer said.
“It’s probably going to be something I’m happy I achieved looking back when it’s all said and done.”
Yet a month shy of his 35th birthday, Federer still craves more.
“I hope I can win Wimbledon one more time. That would be nice,” he said after setting up a last-eight clash with Marin Cilic.
Favourite to capitalise on Novak Djokovic’s shock removal from the top half of the draw and reach his 11th final, Federer is rightfully wary of the ninth-seeded Croat.
“He brushed me off the court like I was nothing in the semis of the US Open a few years back, so I hope to get him back,” Federer said.
Cilic progressed when fifth seed Kei Nishikori retired with a rib injury while trailing 6-1 5-1.
Djokovic’s third-round conqueror Sam Querrey will play Milos Raonic in a quarter-final battle of two of tennis’s biggest servers.
Querrey only faced one break point all match in ousting Frenchman Nicolas Mahut 6-4 7-6 (7-5) 6-4, while sixth seed Raonic recovered from two sets down for the first time in his career to eliminate 11th seed David Goffin 4-6 3-6 6-4 6-4 6-4.
AAP djw/gc
