WIMBLEDON, England (AP) – After waiting 11 years to get another shot against Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon, Roger Federer was so, so close to the finish line.
One match point slipped away when Federer missed a forehand return. A second came and went on a backhand return. Later, serving for a spot in a record 12th final at the All England Club, Federer shanked a leaping overhead off the top edge of his racket frame, giving Nadal a break point. After Nadal wasted that chance, Federer earned two more match points – and failed to convert those, either, as his wife, Mirka, peeked through the fingers covering her face.
Federer knew it wouldn’t be easy against his great rival. Never is, really, no matter where they play. Eventually, Nadal pushed a backhand long on match point No. 5, bringing an anti-climactic close to the otherwise classic contest and allowing Federer to win their semifinal 7-6 (3), 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Friday.
“I’m exhausted. It was tough at the end,” Federer said. “I’m just very relieved it’s all over.”
Federer closed in on a ninth championship at the All England Club and 21st Grand Slam trophy in all. To get to those numbers in Sunday’s final, Federer must get past Novak Djokovic, who is the defending champion and seeded No. 1.
“We all know how good he is anywhere,” Djokovic said about Federer, “but especially here.”
Djokovic isn’t too shabby himself. He reached his sixth final at the grass-court major by beating 23rd-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, earlier Friday.
Djokovic is eyeing a fifth championship at Wimbledon and 16th major title.
As entertaining as that first semifinal was – including a 45-stroke point won by Djokovic – it was merely a tasty appetizer ahead of the day’s delectable main course.
