Wimbledon Day 9 - Federer Restores Order, As Murray Crashes Out

Roger Federer stepped onto the realms of Centre Court fully aware of the situation, two of his main rivals were out, and an unprecedented 18^th Grand Slam was in touching distance.

The timing and manner of his Wimbledon quarter final victory over good friend, fellow Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka couldn’t have been better. After a routine first week Federer overcame his first real hurdle at this year’s tournament, and will advance to his semi-final with Canadian Milos Raonic as a man who been tested but remains unscathed.



Federer hasn't won a Grand Slam since winning Wimbledon in 2012

He arrived on court only minutes after Andy Murray’s defeat and was welcomed by a crowd still in disbelief at the defending Champion’s exit. For a nervy hour it looked like Federer was heading the same way, he trailed a set and was a couple of points away from losing the second but found a way as a champion often does.

He didn’t panic; his calm demeanour reassured his audience that he was still in control. After edging a second set tie break his route to the finish line appeared as he had expected it to and before anyone knew it his 3-6 7-6(5) 6-4 6-4 victory was complete.

“It's tough (playing against a friend)," admitted Federer. "Stan played great especially in the first two sets, until he started to really struggle with his fitness.

"He was hitting it so well so I had to wait for my chance. We know each other's game so well and I wish him all the best for the rest of the season, because he has been great so far this year."

Federer was right to compliment Wawrinka’s start; however it was true that he faded a little towards the end. In the first set it was all about the Swiss number one, these days it’s Wawrinka rather than Federer, as Wawrinka’s played the inspired aggressive tennis which saw him claim his first Grand Slam at the Australian Open in January.

What happened next was a combination of things, for starters Federer, who had managed to re-engage the saddened crowd, raised his game. While on the other side of the net Wawrinka became distracted suffering from an apparent stomach bug. “I was feeling not great, but nothing that I want or need to talk about," he admitted after the match.

The second set proved pivotal and after taking it on an anxious tie break Federer suddenly remerged as the favourite. His players’ box led by childhood hero Stefan Edberg reacted like their man had won the tournament; they knew the opportunity that had arisen and the obstacle that had just been cleared.

Wawrinka wasn’t the same from that point on and Federer took full advantage and made sure he didn’t follow in the footsteps of Murray and Nadal, by surging back to win in 2 hours 33 minutes and restore order to the men’s draw.