It's a Federer-Nadal Semifinal As Scripted

The Swiss records his 100th win at SW19; Djokovic crushes Goffin; Agut in maiden Slam semifinal.

- N. Sudarshan

More than a decade after their momentous Wimbledon final in 2008 — a match for the ages that ended under semi-darkness — Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will lock horns again, this time a round earlier.

The two won their respective quarterfinal matches on Wednesday against Kei Nishikori and Sam Querrey to set up their 40th head-to-head meeting on Friday. While Federer came through a tense four-setter 4-6, 6-1, 6-1, 6-4 for his 100th win at SW19, Nadal doused a spirited challenge from the service-heavy American 7-5, 6-2, 6-2.

“Well, we have a lot of information on Rafa and so do they about us,” said a smiling Federer about facing Nadal. “We can all talk tactics for the next two days or just say it’s grass court tennis and I am going to attack. If he can defend, it’s good for him or it’s good for me. I mean, people hype it up, just like in the French Open. It was a joy to play on his court. Now, I’d love to play on grass. Let’s see what happens.”