Roger Federer won't be satisfied with winning six consecutive Wimbledon championships. He expects to be chasing more titles for another decade.
Federer has reached the semifinals for the 17th consecutive time at a grand slam event, and is two wins away from becoming the second man in history to lift the Wimbledon trophy six years in a row.
"I'll have a chance to win this tournament for the next five or 10 years, you know," the 26-year-old Swiss star said on Wednesday. "I think my game's made for grass. My dream is to not only win this year, but many more years to come."
All the pre-tournament talk that Federer was more vulnerable this year has evaporated as he cruised into the final four without dropping a set, taking his winning streak at Wimbledon to 39 matches and 64 overall on grass.
Federer played a nearly flawless match to beat Mario Ancic, the last man to beat him on grass in the first round of Wimbledon in 2002. He served 15 aces, won 61 of 71 points on serve and never faced a break point in a 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 victory.
"I really feel like I'm playing as good as the last few years," Federer said. "I've been playing very consistent, been moving great. This is obviously a perfect situation looking at the semis."
That's where Federer will face a resurgent Marat Safin, a former No. 1 and two-time grand slam champion who used to detest playing at Wimbledon and is down at No. 75 in the ATP rankings.
Just as impressive as Federer in the top half of the draw has been No. 2 Rafael Nadal in the bottom section, as the two rivals head toward a probable third straight Wimbledon final. Playing what he described as one of his best grasscourt matches, the Spaniard never faced a break point and overwhelmed Andy Murray 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.
"I am doing a lot of things better than last year," said Nadal, bidding to become the first man to win the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year since Bjorn Borg in 1980.
Nadal won't find out his semifinal opponent until later, as 94th-ranked Rainer Schuettler and No. 145 Arnaud Clement were locked at two sets apiece before rain interrupted their quarterfinal.
(Agencies via Shanghai Daily July 4, 2008)