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8 year oldRoger Federer is getting serious at Wimbledon
But Roger Federer is proving all the critics wrong at Wimbledon this year. He completed an incredible comeback to beat Marin Cilic in his quarter-final on Thursday morning (AEST), recovering from two-sets-to-love down to eventually overpower the Croatian 6-7 (4-7) 4-6 6-3 7-6 (11-9) 6-3.
Prior to that he hadn’t lost a set at the All England club during this campaign.
If that isn’t enough to convince his rivals that the Federer of old is back, then he took some extra care to ensure they got the message.
Stepping out onto centre court before his match against Cilic, the Fed Express was rocking a familiar suave white blazer — something he hasn’t done in a long, long time.
Aussie tennis legends and commentators at Wimbledon Todd Woodbridge and John Newcombe were convinced the Swiss maestro’s choice of outfit was anything but coincidence, saying it was a way of him making a statement to the rest of the draw, and to those watching from the stands and on TV.
“He used to wear that years ago when the confidence was high,” Woodbridge said.
“He’s come out with a statement there.”
“He’s sending a signal, ‘Look at me, I’m the seven-time champion,’” said Newcombe.
@rogerfederer this jacket is most legit thing I've ever seen #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/aEjeH1kljU
— Austin Luper (@atluper99) July 6, 2016
Roger Federer and his jacket. The coolest!?????? #Wimbledon
— Onur Terzi Shelby (@latermate) July 6, 2016
And with @rogerfederer's stellar victory, the prodigal jacket also returned to @Wimbledon #centrecourt today. #FedererVsCilic #Federer18
— Anannya Sarkar (@ononna01) July 6, 2016
@7tennis With the jacket back, I think @rogerfederer to win in straight sets! LOL! #Wimbledon #7Tennis
— Ryan Eckford (@RyanEckford) July 6, 2016
Federer’s known for being one of the more stylish guys on tour, and while his first two sets were forgettable — inexplicably shanking backhand after backhand into the net — finally that style transferred from his dress sense into his tennis.
He’s won 17 majors — seven of them on the grass courts of Wimbledon — and sits three above Pete Sampras on the list of most grand slam singles titles by a male player. Many have assumed world No. 1 Novak Djokovic — with 12 — is a shoo-in to overtake him, but the world No. 3 is proving he hasn’t finished winning just yet.
With Djokovic spectacularly eliminated in the third round by American Sam Querrey and Rafael Nadal missing through injury, Federer will never have a better chance to add an eighth Wimbledon crown to his resume.
He will face Canadian Milos Raonic in the semi-finals.
“The dream continues,” Federer said after saving three match points against Cilic to become the oldest grand slam semi-finalist since Ken Rosewall in 1974.
“It was an emotional win, (as) always when you come back from two-sets-to-love, but because of the season that I’ve had. It’s wonderful.
“To test the body, to be out there again, fighting, being in a physical battle and winning it is an unbelievable feeling.”
Classic Fed! https://t.co/3zGqoWDbf0
— 7Tennis (@7tennis) July 6, 2016
He’s had problems with his knees, but those aside, missing last month’s French Open with a back injury — breaking his record run of a 65 consecutive major appearances — left the father of four with just a dozen matches under his belt since January, the most troubling preparation of his 20-year professional career.
But he dispelled any fitness concerns in the most emphatic fashion to somehow conjure his 10th win from two sets down and surpass Martina Navratilova as the most prolific winner of grand slam matches tennis has ever seen.
“I was just very happy that I actually felt as strong as I did, mentally and physically when I was down two-sets-to-love,” Federer said.
“Marin’s such a wonderful player. I knew I was in so much trouble in the third and again the fourth.
“It was about staying in the match and getting a little bit lucky, and that’s what happened.”
— with AAP
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