Federer, Raonic To Kick Off Wimbledon SFs

Roger Federer is two wins away from securing his 18^th Grand Slam title, but an in-form Milos Raonic looks to stop the Swiss star with a blend of power and guile.

Previewing the two semi-final matches…

[6] MILOS RAONIC (CAN) vs. [3] ROGER FEDERER (SUI)

FedEx ATP Head2Head: Federer leads 9-2

Despite overcoming a two-set deficit and saving three match points in an epic quarter-final match against Marin Cilic, Federer comes into the semi-finals having spent two fewer hours on court during the tournament than Raonic. The Swiss has only dropped two sets this fortnight, both against Cilic. Raonic came back from 0-2 down for the first time in his career against David Goffin in the fourth round and edged Sam Querrey in four sets in the quarter-finals.

Raonic, seeded No. 6, is a match away from reaching his first Grand Slam final. He’ll be out for revenge as Federer beat him in the same stage of The Championships two years ago. The Canadian has never won a grass-court title and has yet to win a set against Federer in a Grand Slam championship, but did win the pair’s most recent meeting in the final of Brisbane 2016.

At 34, Federer is aiming to become the oldest Wimbledon finalist since 39-year-old Ken Rosewall finished runner-up in 1974. The last man older than Federer to reach any Grand Slam final was 35-year-old Andre Agassi, who fell to the Swiss at the 2005 US Open.

[2] ANDY MURRAY (GBR) vs. [10] TOMAS BERDYCH (CZE)

FedEx ATP Head2Head: Murray leads 8-6

Murray has not lost to Berdych in nearly three years, but has never faced the 2010 Wimbledon finalist on grass. The 2013 champion has swept the pair’s past four meetings, three of them in straight sets. Coming into the semi-finals, Berdych is the fresher of the two, having dismissed first-time Grand Slam quarter-finalist Lucas Pouille in just under two hours while Murray needed a fifth set and nearly four hours to see off Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in his previous match.

With a semi-final win, Murray will reach his 11^th Grand Slam final and take sole ownership of the record for most appearances in a Grand Slam final by a British man. He currently shares the record with Fred Perry. Only three active players (Federer, Nadal and Djokovic) have more Grand Slam final appearances than the Brit.

Berdych is looking to become the first Czech man since Ivan Lendl, Murray’s current coach, to reach multiple Wimbledon finals. He is on a 17-match losing streak against players in the Top 2 of the Emirates ATP Rankings. His last win came against Murray in Cincinnati 2013.

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