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Thursday 12 July 2018

Wimbledon QF “You’re never really safe.”

As the fifth set became
Continued from Page 17 son. Still, the 20-time major as much a test of mental
champion was leading by strength as anything, from
“It was just one of those two sets and 5-4 in the third 4-all to 6-all to 8-all to 10-all,
days where you hope to when, with Anderson serv- Anderson stayed steady. It
get by somehow,” said Fe- ing, he got to Ad-Out. He was Federer who blinked,
derer, who last played at could have ended things double-faulting to face a
No. 1 Court in 2015. “I al- right then and there. Fe- break point at 11-all, then
most could have. I should derer managed to return slapping a forehand into
have.” a 134 mph serve, but on his the net.
While his tournament is next stroke, he shanked a Anderson, a 32-year-old
over, two of his long-time ri- backhand. South African who played
vals at the top of tennis set Back to deuce. From there, college tennis at Illinois,
up a semifinal showdown: it all began to change. An- served it out, ending things
Rafael Nadal and Novak derson held for 5-all, broke with a 128 mph service
Djokovic. Nadal, who’s to 6-5 with a violent return winner before raising both
won two of his 17 Grand winner off a 97 mph sec- arms.
Slam titles at Wimbledon, ond serve, then staved Djokovic got his wish to
edged 2009 U.S. Open off three break points and play in the main stadium,
champion Juan Martin del closed the set with a 133 and he showed that he
Potro 7-5, 6-7 (7), 4-6, 6-4, mph ace. might completely be back
6-4 in a wildly entertaining The comeback was just be- from right elbow troubles
match that featured diving ginning. that lasted more than a
shots by both and lasted 4 “I had my chances,” Fe- year until he finally had sur-
hours, 48 minutes. derer said, “so it’s disap- gery in February.
Djokovic, whose 12 ma- pointing.” He’s been flashing some
jor championships include This was only the third time anger this fortnight and did
three from the All England in Federer’s 20 years of con- John Isner of the United States kneels after losing a point so again in the second set,
Club, got to his first Grand testing Grand Slam match- during his men’s quarterfinals match against Canada’s Milos bouncing his racket off the
Slam semifinal since 2016 es that he lost after taking Raonic, at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, in London, turf after failing to capital-
by beating No. 24 seed Kei the opening two sets; both Wednesday July 11, 2018. ize on three break points at
Nishikori 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2. of the other defeats came Associated Press 1-all. That earned a code
In Friday’s other men’s in 2011. And, according to at Wimbledon and move set taking the court against violation from chair umpire
match, Anderson will the ATP, it’s the fifth time Fe- closer to title No. 9, both of somebody like Roger.” Carlos Ramos. When Nishi-
face No. 9 John Isner, the derer lost a match at a ma- which would have broken Anderson was the runner- kori let his own racket fly
33-year-old American who jor after holding a match his own records. up to Nadal at last year’s in the fourth set, he wasn’t
reached his first major semi- point, something else that He came into the match U.S. Open, but he never chastised, which prompt-
final in his 41st try by elimi- last happened seven years having won 32 consecu- made it beyond the fourth ed Djokovic to yell “double
nating 2016 runner-up Milos ago. tive sets at Wimbledon, a round at Wimbledon until standards” toward Ramos
Raonic 6-7 (5), 7-6 (7), 6-4, How hard was it to see this run he stretched to 34 be- this week. He hit 28 aces — drawing boos from fans.
6-3. Isner hit 25 aces, saved coming? fore faltering. against Federer, saved “He claims that he didn’t
the only break point he First of all, Federer was 4-0 “I just kept on telling myself, nine of 12 break points and see what Nishikori has
faced, and has won all 95 against Anderson, win- ‘I have to keep believing.’ managed to hold his own done, but apparently he
of his service games in the ning every set. But there I kept saying that today in the rare lengthy baseline always sees what I do,”
tournament. was more. So much more. was going to be my day,” rallies. Djokovic said afterward,
Federer hadn’t been bro- Federer was attempting Anderson said, “because “It’s like that with the big “something that I don’t
ken until facing Ander- to reach his 13th semifinal you really need that mind- servers,” Federer said. think is fair.”q

Wimbledon glance: Williams to face Goerges in semifinals

LONDON (AP) — A quick seeded women already if she and Goerges win,
look at Wimbledon: knocked out. She’s the only it would be the first all-
LOOKAHEAD TO THURSDAY former champion left in the German women’s final
Serena Williams will play field and has a 9-1 record in since 1931.
in her 35th Grand Slam semifinals at the All England THURSDAY’S FORECAST
semifinal against an Club. Mostly cloudy. High of 79
opponent appearing in her She’s also the lowest- degrees (26 Celsius).
first. Julia Goerges is hoping ranked woman to reach STAT OF THE DAY
she can pull off a massive the last four. The former 41 — the number of Grand
upset against the American No. 1 is only ranked 181st Slam appearances John
— despite losing to her five after only recently returning Isner needed to reach his
weeks ago at the French from having a baby in first semifinal.
Open. November. QUOTE OF THE DAY
“It’s an honor to share the No. 11 Angelique Kerber “I wouldn’t call it ‘unfinished
court with her,” Goerges faces 12th-seeded Jelena business’. I felt like I did
said. “But I will sort out some Ostapenko in the other some good business here
tactics with my team ... and semifinal. in the past already,” eight-
we’ll be ready.” Kerber has a chance to set Julia Goerges of Germany returns to Kiki Bertens of the time champion Federer
Williams is the big favorite to up a rematch with Williams Netherlands during their women’s quarterfinal match at the said on whether he still
win an eighth Wimbledon after losing the 2016 final to Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday July 10, has unfinished business at
2018.
title with all of the top-10 the American — although Associated Press Wimbledon.q