Roger Federer in semifinals after epic comeback
Roger Federer in semifinals after epic comeback
LONDON — The match, and Roger Federer’s bid for a record eighth Wimbledon championship, essentially should have been over after a little more than 11/2 hours Wednesday.
Once that problem was solved, his quarterfinal against Marin Cilic really could have concluded 45 minutes later, when Federer faced a match point at 5-4 in the fourth.
[...] Cilic, who beat Federer in straight sets en route to the 2014 U.S. Open title, could not close the deal.
Saving those three match points, Federer eventually emerged with a don’t-look-away-or-you’ll-miss-something 6-7 (4), 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (9), 6-3 victory over Cilic to reach his 11th semifinal at All England Club.
“I fought, I tried, I believed,” Federer said after his 10th career comeback from a two-set hole, equaling the most on record.
When he capped his escape with two aces at 126 mph and 115 mph, the third-seeded player thrust both arms overhead and violently wagged his right index finger.
“To test the body, to be out there again fighting, being in a physical battle — and winning it — is an unbelievable feeling,” said Federer, who could become the oldest man to win a major since Ken Rosewall did it at 37 at the 1972 Australian Open.