Wimbledon: Federer, Nadal to meet again

Two of tennis’ greatest ever will face off in the semi-finals, with Djokovic also in the final four.

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will square off in the Wimbledon semi-finals. Picture: Getty Images

For the first time at Wimbledon since playing arguably the greatest match of all in 2008, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will meet on centre court at the All England Club on Friday.

Federer survived an early blitz from Kei Nishikori to proceed 4-6 6-1 6-4 6-4 in a sublime performance lasting 2hr 36min, notching his 100th Wimbledon win in the process.

Almost to the second, Nadal moved to a two set advantage against former Wimbledon semi-finalist Sam Querrey and went on to proceed 7-5 6-2 6-2.

The Swiss superstar said he was looking forward to the clash on Friday against his great rival and friend in their 40th meeting.

Nadal leads the head-to-head 24-15 and defeated Federer in a French Open semi-final played in atrocious conditions a month ago.

“Obviously I know people always hype it up again in a big way,” Federer said.

“I will be very excited playing against him but I go about it like I do in any other match. We have a lot of information on Rafa and so does he about us.

“You can either dive in to tactics like mad for two days or you can say, ‘It is a grass court and I am going to go (on the) attack,’.”

Federer shakes hands with Kei Nishikori. Picture: AFP

Federer, who fell in the 2008 final to Nadal, did not realise he had recorded another significant milestone at the club until notified after his victory over Nishikori.

“It is not like I am thinking, “I will get my 100 up”,” he said.

“I actually forgot about it in the moment and then a fan told me ‘Congratulations on your 100th”. I love playing here at Wimbledon.”

To say Nishikori started well is an understatement. He broke Federer immediately when, after a sublime point, he was able to make a reflex volley at the net.

The Japanese star then had the chance to move to a 3-0 lead when holding an additional three break points on the Swiss’ serve but was unable to convert.

In commentary, 1987 Wimbledon champion Pat Cash was impressed with the conviction Nishikori was displaying but pondered whether he could sustain the attack.

“It’s Djokovic-like at the moment,” Cash said on the BBC.

“Nishikori is hitting every forehand as hard as he can. (He is) red-lining it. But he might blow the engine playing like this.”

Federer was able to gain a foothold in the match from the third game onward but unable to reel in Nishikori in the opening set, though it became a spirited battle.

And from there it was Federer who went into overdrive, with Cash’s assessment proving prescient.

The Swiss rallied immediately at the start of the second set, breaking Nishikori to love when whipping a forehand winner down the line for a 2-0 lead. And he proceeded to whip through the set in just 22 minutes to square the ledger.

Rafael Nadal. Picture: Getty Images

Nishikori’s opening service game in the third set seemed the perfect time to make a stand. He fought hard to hold and eventually managed to do so in a game lasting almost eight minutes.

The 37-year-old and the world No 7 went blow-for-blow through the third set.

But after several opportunities to break went begging, Federer produced brilliant winners off both wings to move ahead of 4-3 in a pivotal moment in the match and was able to claim the set three games later.

Similarly to the third set, Nishikori continued to fight hard to deny his rival opportunities when they presented.

But after a hard-fought rally at 4-all, 30-40, the resistance effectively ended when he marginally over-hit a forehand.

Nadal, meanwhile, made an early move when breaking the powerful American’s serve in the third game.

But it became a far more difficult challenge as the set went on, with Querrey continuing to press the Spaniard, eventually managing to level at 5-all.

Little separated a pair distinct in style but Nadal found just enough on major points to seize another break and then hold his own in a particularly tight first set.

Similarly to the first set, the world No 2 was able to seize an early break, which added to the challenge facing the American.

But this time he was able to dictate terms through the set and when he broke again at the start of the third, it was a formality that he would set up a 40th clash against Federer.

Novak Djokovic meanwhile will face Roberto Bautista Agut in the other semi-final.