Roger Federer battled Marin Cilic on the grass at Wimbledon and, remarkably, produced a match that may become one of the best-remembered of all his triumphs. Federer is supposed to be in his tennis dotage, but he will instead play in his 11th Wimbledon semifinal next, having saved not one but three match points in the fourth set against the former US Open champion Cilic. Federer, for all his Nadal battles at the All-England Club, can put this one on — or very near — the top of his legacy basket.
Of this remarkable quarterfinal (6-7, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6, 6-3), Federer said: “The last three sets were really good and, as the match went on, I was improving … my legs were there, my back was there … this is going to give me a hell of a boost. I’m ecstatic I was able to come through.” Canadian Milos Raonic is next for Federer, for whom Djokovic’s exit has to be an extra incentive.
