Dream Match Up Awaits

Wimbledon Review

Day nine at the 2005 Wimbledon Championships put the men in the spotlight and when all was said and done the cream had definitely risen to the top with the only four grand slam winners left in the field moving through to the semi finals.

Two time defending champion Roger Federer was the first man to book a spot in the semi finals, as he proved to be a class above Chilean Fernando Gonzalez defeating him in straight sets 7-5 6-2 7-6(2).

The world no.1 didn’t have it all his own way being pushed to the limit in the first and third sets on the back of some hard hitting from Gonzalez, but in the end the Swiss maestro had one too many tricks in his bag.

“It's always interesting to play against him because you sort of have to always weather the storm against him. He hits the ball with so much pace,” said Federer in his post match press conference.

“There is not much you can actually control in a match like this because he always takes the first swing at the ball, but I still enjoy it because, you know, you get good rallies. I have to really work hard on my defense. Sometimes things I don't do so often.”

His opponent in the semis will be his arch nemesis Lleyton Hewitt after he kept Australian hopes alive with a hard fought 7-5 6-4 7-6(2) win over Spaniard Feliciano Lopez.

The number three seed looked to be in all sorts of trouble when down 4-2 in the first set, but some costly mistakes from Lopez helped Hewitt to level at 4-4 and then a few more errors in the 12th game gifted the Australian the set 7-5.

The second set was a very close affair with both players holding serve comfortably, but with Hewitt 5-4 ahead the young Spanish players demons reared their ugly head again as he made four unforced errors to hand the set to the world no.2.

Even though he was down two sets to love Lopez continued to fight taking the third set to a tiebreaker, but Hewitt made sure the match ended there racing through the shootout 7-2 to set up a mouth watering semi final clash with Roger Federer.

After the match Hewitt talked about his chances against Federer and what he has to do to beat him.

“He's obviously the best player in the world for a reason. He's really taken his game to another level in the last couple of years.”

“But I believe I'm capable of winning the match. It's not going to be easy, and I've got to play one of my best matches that I've got. But, you know, I believe that I can do it.”

Controversial no.2 seed Andy Roddick eventually made it through to his third straight semi final appearance defeating gallant Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean in a marathon five setter 3-6 6-2 6-1 3-6 6-3.

After losing the first set the American world no.3 looked to be in cruise control as he raced through the second and third sets for the loss of only three games, but Grosjean turned the match on it’s head taking the fourth set to send the match to a decider.

The capacity centre court crowd may have been hoping for a drawn out duel in the fifth set, but Roddick made sure that wouldn’t happen quickly establishing a 3-0 lead and with his booming serve that was all he would need to ensure his spot in the next round.

His adversary in the semi finals will be 2002 Australian Open Champion Thomas Johansson after the soft spoken Swede upset former Wimbledon finalist David Nalbandian 7-6(5) 6-2 6-2.

Johansson was dominant from the word go and after taking the first set in a tie breaker he put his pedal to the metal to rush into the semi finals in fine style.

Day Nine Results

Men Quarter Finals:

1-Roger Federer (SUI) bt 21-Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) 7-5 6-2 7-6(2)
2-Andy Roddick (USA) bt 9-Sebastien Grosjean (FRA) 3-6 6-2 6-1 3-6 6-3
3-Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) bt 26-Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 7-5 6-4 7-6(2)
12-Thomas Johansson (SWE) bt 18-David Nalbandian (ARG) 7-6(5) 6-2 6-2

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