For the first time since 2008: Wimbledon duel between Federer and Nadal

Celebrating Federer moved into the top four on Wednesday thanks to his 100th victory at Wimbledon. The 4-year-old Swiss won 6:6, 1:6, 4:6, 4:37 against the Japanese Kei Nishikori. World number two Rafael Nadal followed him with a 7:5, 6:2, 6:2 against the American Sam Querrey.

“Of course I would love to play against him here,” said Federer about the encounter with the world number two, which has not happened at the grass tournament in London since 2008. "That's great. “It’s exciting to play against Roger again here at Wimbledon after such a long time,” said Nadal.

Rafael Nadal beat Sam Querrey. © APA/afp / GLYN KIRK

All semi-finalists belong to the over-30 generation Defending champion Djokovic also underlined his ambitions with a tennis gala. The 32-year-old Serb dispatched Belgian David Goffin 6-4, 6-0, 6-2 and will be challenged by Spanish semi-final debutant Roberto Bautista Agut on Friday. Amazing: All four semi-finalists belong to the over-30 generation. There is no sign of a changing of the guard for the top three Djokovic, Nadal and Federer at Wimbledon.

The women around US star Serena Williams will contest their semi-finals on Thursday. Tennis lovers will be particularly electrified by the semi-final meeting between Federer and Nadal a day later. A good month after the 33-year-old Spaniard's clear victory against Federer, who was four years his senior, at the French Open in Paris, the two are facing each other for the 40th time. The last test of strength between the two influential players at Wimbledon was actually eleven years ago: Back then, the two top athletes fought in the final of one of the greatest matches in tennis history. Nadal won 9:7 in the fifth set. Federer with difficulties in the first set “It was a sweet victory to achieve that,” said Federer when asked about reaching the 100 mark. With his success in 2:36 hours, the Swiss, a world-class player who will soon be 38 years old, became the oldest Grand Slam semi-finalist since Jimmy Connors at the US Open in 1991. “It was difficult. The beginning was brutal. “It was important for me to take the lead in the second set,” he analyzed.

Initially, BBC commentator Boris Becker judged that Nishikori, seventh in the world rankings, was the better player and deserved to win the first set. But then Federer controlled the pace of the rallies better, served harder and in the end was the first men's player to celebrate his 100th singles victory at the same Grand Slam tournament. Djokovic without any problems against Goffin Djokovic had every reason to smile after his impressive performance. “I played my best tennis in this tournament in the round of 16 and today,” said the Serb and admitted with regard to Goffin: “He was the better player in large parts of the first set. This match could have gone differently.”

Djokovic had to work hard against the finalist from Halle and former top ten player until he won the first set. The nimble Belgian secured the first break to make it 4:3. Then a surprisingly one-sided event developed on Center Court. The 15-time Grand Slam winner won ten games in a row – a remarkable series. Bautista Agut in a Grand Slam semi-final for the first time In this form, the Spaniard Bautista Agut should hardly be able to stop the top seeds on their way to the final. The 31-year-old world number 22 beat Argentina's Guido Pella 7:5, 6:4, 3:6, 6:3 and reached a Grand Slam semi-final for the first time. “He has incredible consistency in his shots,” praised Djokovic. He has lost both comparisons against the Spaniard this season.

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For the first time since 2008: Wimbledon duel between Federer and Nadal

Record winner Roger Federer and Roland Garros champion Rafael Nadal made the giant duel at Wimbledon perfect. After their quarter-final successes, the two long-standing rivals will play against each other on Friday to reach the final of the world's most prestigious tennis tournament.

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