adminLONDON. — Top seed Novak Djokovic halted the grasscourt charge of talented Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov yesterday, beating the 11th seed 6-4 3-6 7-6(2) 7-6(7) in an exhilarating see-saw contest to reach the Wimbledon final.
The six-time Grand Slam champion had to draw on all the experience gleaned in 23 Grand Slam semifinals to get the better of 23-year-old Dimitrov.
The Bulgarian was on a roll after winning the pre-Wimbledon tournament at Queen’s Club and downing third-seeded champion Andy Murray in the quarter-finals.
Both players slipped and slid along the dusty Centre Court baselines, frequently losing their footing.
But it was Djokovic who found the extra grit to prevail, saving a set point in the ninth game of the fourth set and three in the tie-break before taking the match with a cross-court forehand winner.
Roger Federer reached a ninth final after suppressing bullet-serving giant Milos Raonic 6-4 6-4 6-4 with a masterful display of the grasscourt arts.
Chasing a record eighth title at the All England Club, Federer set up a mouthwatering final against top seed and 2011 champion Novak Djokovic with an almost casual demolition of the 23-year-old Canadian.
The 17-times Grand Slam champion broke in the opening game and then comfortably saw out the first set before breaking decisively in the ninth games of both the second and third sets, with his opponent unable to gain a foothold in the match.
The 32-year-old Swiss played most of the match at walking pace and finished off his opponent in one hour 41 minutes, clenching his fist in a restrained celebration when Raonic hit a backhand return wide on match point. — Reuters.
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