Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer have met 26 times, but Friday’s potentially epic Wimbledon semi-final will be a first clash on grass in their rollercoaster, six-year rivalry. Defending champion Djokovic has won the pair’s last three meetings, in straight sets on clay this year in Rome and in the semi-finals of the French Open. Those wins followed a morale-sapping semi-final loss for Federer at the US Open where the Serb, for the second successive year, saved match points before driving another dagger into the great Swiss. Both men go into Friday’s clash having racked up impressive numbers. Djokovic, the US Open, Australian Open and Wimbledon champion, is in a ninth successive Grand Slam semi-final and has played in four of the last finals at the majors. Federer is in a record 32nd semi-final of a Grand Slam. On paper, the grass of Centre Court should favour Federer, the six-time champion desperate to equal the record seven set by Pete Sampras. But the 16-time Grand Slam title winner is playing down the significance of the surface.
“Things are not that drastic of a change anymore from clay, hard court, indoor, to grass. But it is interesting that this is our first grass court match,” said Federer.
“I’m just happy that I’m around further than I’ve been the last couple of years. So it’s been a good tournament for me. It gives me confidence going into a big match against Novak.”
Federer targets gold at Wimbledon: Roger Federer has set his sights on crowning his remarkable record at Wimbledon by winning Olympic gold on his favourite grass courts. For the second time, and the first since the 1908 London Games, Wimbledon will play host to an Olympic tennis tournament, comprising men’s and women’s singles, as well as doubles and mixed doubles. While Great Britain’s athletes and competitors will enjoy home advantage during the Games, even they will struggle to match the levels of familiarity and comfort Federer enjoys at the All England Club.