Federer, Murray book Wimbledon semi-final

Grand slam heavyweights Roger Federer and Andy Murray have overcome two rain delays to set up a blockbuster Wimbledon semi-final on Friday.

The stoppages aside, Federer swept past Frenchman Gilles Simon 6-3 7-5 6-2 in 94 minutes to surge into the last four for the 10th before Murray saw off Canadian Vasek Pospisil 6-4 7-5 6-4 to reach his sixth semi-final at the All England Club in the last seven years.

In the only blip in an an otherwise sublime display, second-seeded Federer dropped serve for the first time in 116 games, an extraordinary run stretching nine matches back to his second-round encounter at Halle against Philipp Kohlschreiber.

The lapse occurred when the great Swiss was serving at 5-4 in the second set, but he struck back immediately before holding once more to take a commanding two-sets-to-love lead.

No let-up, Federer broke Simon in the opening game of the third set as he continued his quest for an unprecedented eighth men’s singles crown on London’s hallowed grass courts.

Turning 34 next month, the 17-times major winner is also bidding to become the oldest Wimbledon singles champion in professional tennis history.

While Prince William, wife Kate and Prince Albert of Monaco watched Murray from the Royal Box on centre court, Federer had tennis royalty of his own in Rod Laver among the spectators on court one to witness the Swiss’ latest majestic display.

Federer hit 11 aces and 36 winners and felt he took advantage of the rain delays.

“They helped me rather than hindered me,” he said after booking his first meeting with Murray at Wimbledon since the magical summer of 2012 when he beat the Scot to land his record-equalling seventh title there before Murray turned the tables in the Olympic final.

“We both like to look back on that summer of 2012,” Federer said.

“If we knew I would win Wimbledon and him Olympics, I think we both would have taken it. It was a great summer for us.”

Stay up to date with the latest sports news
Follow our social accounts to get exclusive content and all the latest sporting news!