The top 4 players left in the tournament all looked to be at their best on quarter-finals day.
Before Federer met Youzhny on Day 9 Tim Henman commented that the match would be “a test for Mikhail Youzhny mentally…He’s played Roger Federer 13 times and he’s lost on every occasion.” This match was no exception. Federer was unstoppable against Russian Mikhail Youzhny winning the match 6-1, 6-2, 6-2. The back problem that seemed to plague him at the beginning of the tournament is ancient history now and the Swiss master executed a sublime game of tennis. He progresses through to his 8th Wimbledon semi-final (although it’s his first for 3 years.) Spectators included many tennis legends as well as members of the British Royal family.
Djokovic equally breezed past German Florian Mayer and will now face Federer in the semi-final. The Serbian was out on Court No 1 for a change, but it certainly didn’t phase him. His second set was some of the most inspiring tennis in the tournament so far. The semi-final between these two giants of tennis will be eagerly anticipated.
Also on Court No 1 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga put on a powerful display against German Philipp Kohlschreiber. The 27th seed was convincingly beaten by the Frenchman 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2. Tsonga served 17 aces during the matched and reached 136mph with one of them!
Facing him in the semi-final will be Britain’s Andy Murray who fought a fantastic match against Spanish David Ferrer. Like Federer, Murray seemed to have back problems at the beginning of Wimbledon, but all that is long forgotten now. Ferrer put up a hard fight, the first two sets both went to tie-breaks, but was eventually beaten 6-7, 7-6, 6-4, 7-6. Murray found his service rhythm and forced Ferrer to chase the ball all around the court. He well deserves his place in the semi-final for the fourth year in a row.
