By James Cone and Danielle Rossingh
July 2 (Bloomberg) — Top-ranked Roger Federer beat Mario Ancic today to reach the semifinals in his quest for a record sixth straight Wimbledon tennis title. Second-seeded Rafael Nadal also won, ending Andy Murray’s chance to be the first British men’s champion in 72 years.
Federer won 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 on Centre Court in a match interrupted by a rain delay of more than two hours at the All England Tennis Club in southwest London. Play had also started 45 minutes late because of rain.
“I think I played well today and throughout the tournament so far,” Federer told a news conference. “I’ve had some better draws, some tougher draws over the years here at Wimbledon. I was able to come through all of them the last five years, so I’m happy that this time it’s worked out again as good. I really feel like I’m playing as good as the last few years.”
Nadal, seeking his first Wimbledon win after four titles at the French Open, beat Murray, the No. 12 seed, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. Some fans had been camping outside the grounds for two nights to get a ticket.
“The second set especially probably was my best match here,” Nadal told a news conference. “I played very aggressive all the time. I tried to hit the ball every time close to the lines.”
Federer next plays former Australian and U.S. Open champion Marat Safin of Russia, who rallied to defeat Spain’s Feliciano Lopez, the No. 31 seed, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-1), 6-3.
“To beat Federer you need to be Nadal and run around like a rabbit and hit winners from all over the place,” Safin told a news conference. “I’m playing semifinals, but that doesn’t mean that I have a chance there.”
Break Borg
Federer is aiming to better Bjorn Borg’s open-era record of five straight titles from 1976-80 at the only grass-court Grand Slam. Willie Renshaw won seven titles, including six straight, in the 19th century, and Pete Sampras took seven championships through 2000, split by Richard Krajicek’s 1996 victory. Laurie Doherty won his fifth successive title in 1906.
Nadal will either play Rainer Schuettler of Germany or Arnaud Clement of France. That match was suspended at 6-3, 5-7 due to fading light at 8:53 p.m. London time.
Murray fought off two break points in the sixth game to tie the opening set 3-3. Nadal later broke, as Murray mis-hit an overhead smash long, for a 5-3 lead and served out the set in the next game.
Murray Errors
Nadal broke Murray at love in the third game of the second set and followed with a service game at love for a 3-1 lead. Murray was broken a third time in the seventh game and Nadal held serve to take the set 6-2 as the Scotsman put a forehand from the baseline into the net.
In the third set, Murray fended off a break point to hold serve for 3-2. Outplaying the Scot with heavy topspin balls and extreme cross-court angles, the Spaniard broke Murray’s serve to take a 4-3 lead. Both players then held serve for 5-4. Nadal converted his second match point on his serve, screaming with joy and clenching his fist.
Murray had delighted fans in his previous match, when he came back from two sets down to beat Richard Gasquet of France. The last British man to win Wimbledon was Fred Perry in 1936.
“He was playing too well probably for me,” Murray told reporters. “His forehand was ridiculous. He’s hitting the ball so close to the line, so hard, that it was difficult for me to get into a rhythm. I felt rushed on every point.”
No Losses
Federer, the only player among the last eight not to have dropped a set so far, hit two aces as he took the opening game at love against the last man to beat him at Wimbledon.
He then broke when Ancic, a three-time quarterfinalist from Croatia, volleyed into the net. Ancic, 24, held on his next service game before bring broken again to trail 5-1. Federer, who dropped only one point on his serve in the 20-minute set, then wrapped it up.
The first two games of the second set went with service before the players were brought off court at 2:25 p.m. London time. After resuming at 4:37 p.m., Federer finally secured the decisive break for a 6-5 lead when Ancic double-faulted. He held his serve to go two sets up.
The opening game of the third set went to deuce 10 times on Ancic’s serve and lasted only four minutes less than the entire first set. Ancic held, but was broken in Game 5.
Federer finished the match with three straight aces, taking him to 15 for the match. It was his 64th straight win on grass and secures a 17th consecutive Grand Slam semifinal appearance.
Early Lead
Lopez took the first set against Safin with a break in the fourth game against his unseeded opponent, who then won three straight sets.
Safin had two breaks to one in the second set and took the third in a tie-break. He served for the match at 5-2 in the fourth set, but was broken. Safin broke back immediately, with Lopez appearing to be distracted after a point was replayed due to a line judge making a noise.
Safin’s second win in six matches against Lopez completes his set of semifinals at all four Grand Slams. He won the U.S. Open in 2000, the Australian Open in 2005 and made the last four at the French Open in 2002.
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