Jul 4, 2008 - 2:49 PM
0 shoutsWIMBLEDON, England (Ticker) -- Was there ever any doubt that it would be Roger Federer-Rafael Nadal III at the All England Club?
The world's two best players posted straight-set wins Friday in the semifinals to set up what could be an epic Wimbledon final.
Bidding for his sixth straight Wimbledon title, the top-seeded Federer took the court first Friday and needed less than two hours to defeat Russian Marat Safin, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4.
The second-seeded Nadal followed with a 6-1, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 victory over weary German Rainer Schuettler, who was coming off a five-set quarterfinal win over Frenchman Arnaud Clement that lasted more than five hours and extended over two days.
With both Federer and Nadal cruising through their draws, there is plenty of intrigue heading into Sunday's final.
Federer has beaten Nadal in the final in each of the last two years, including a five-set thriller last July.
"Last year I was very close," said Nadal, who enters this year's final on a 23-match winning streak. "I hope on Sunday, same performance, a little bit better. If I have the chance, I hope to win this time
The Spanish southpaw, who destroyed Federer on June 8 in straight sets to win his fourth straight French Open title, will have to beat Federer at his own game to claim his first Wimbledon crown.
"Paris was a disappointment," Federer said. "It's important to bounce back from that loss. I hardly remember anything of it. It went so quickly."
After Nadal thrashed Federer at Roland Garros, many started to question if Federer was still the sport's dominant player. However, Federer is as confident as ever.
"I don't think it matters really a lot if I'm the favorite or not," Federer said.
"I'm on an incredible winning streak on grass. First, somebody has to be able to break that before we start talking differently."
Nadal knows what beating Federer would mean to him.
"If I win here, probably one of the most important wins in my career," he said. "If I win Sunday, my career is changing a little bit more."
Nadal holds an 11-6 lead in his career over Federer, but the Swiss star has 5-2 edge on surfaces other than clay.
"I enjoy the challenge," Federer said. "Rafa is a great competitor. He's got a winning record over me. Every time I play him, I want to beat him. He's now become so good on all the other surfaces that he's a real threat on anything."
In his latest brilliant performance on Friday, Federer never lost his serve en route to his 65th straight match win on grass and 40th victory in a row at Wimbledon. The world No. 1 has yet to lose a set at this year's tournament.
"It's great, a beautiful feeling, being able to get the opportunity to win the title again," said Federer, who is bidding to win his 13th Grand Slam championship. "It means so much to me."
Federer's winning streak at Wilmbedon is one shy of the record held by Bjorn Bjorg, whose string of five straight Wimbledon crowns was snapped in the 1981 final. Bjorg watched Friday's match from the Royal Box.
The only other player to win six straight Wimbledon titles was William Renshaw from 1881-86. However, after claiming his first championship, Renshaw was required to win only one match in the challenge round to retain the title in the following five years.
Using his normal pinpoint precision, Federer overmatched Safin in beating him for the ninth time in 11 matches to reach his 16th Grand Slam final. A former world No. 1, Safin beat Federer in a five-set thriller in the 2005 Australian Open final.
Safin showed some fight in the second set to force a tiebreak. However, a pair of mis-hits put him a 2-0 hole and he was unable to recover. Federer clinched the set with an ace, then ripped a backhand crosscourt winner to end a match that lasted 1 hour, 42 minutes.
"The beginning was terrible. I should have at least stayed with him a little bit longer," Safin said. "But just, of course, he takes advantage," Safin said.
Nadal ended any potential drama against Schuettler quite early, needing just 23 minutes to win the open set.
Schuettler did get back in the match in the set second, breaking Nadal's serve in the third game. But Schuettler let that advantage slip away when he was serving for the set, allowing Nadal to break back.
Nadal opened a quick 4-1 advantage in the tiebreak, then used an early break in the final set en route to booking his spot in the final.
