Centre Court has just witnessed another epic performance from arguably the greatest tennis player of all-time. Roger Federer came back from two sets to love down for the 10th time in his career to down Marin Cilic of Croatia by the score of 6-7 (4), 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (9), 6-3 at Wimbledon in three hours and 18 minutes.
After being down two sets, Federer seemed down and out. The 34-year-old looked tired and dejected, and Federer fans were bracing for the worst. The 17-time Grand Slam champion, however, had no plans to disappoint his loyal fans.
In the third set, the tides completely turned. Federer found his magic, and Cilic tightened-up a bit. All in all, Federer found just enough to complete the comeback.
After the match, Federer realized what a special victory this was, but also felt for Cilic.
"I knew I was in so much trouble in the third and again in the fourth. It was great fun playing against Marin, he’s one of the nicest guys on tour, so I feel sorry for him," Federer said.
"The dream continues. I couldn’t be happier. I thought I fought well and played super great at the end. The last three sets were really good. It's encouraging to see I'm improving. My legs were there, my back was there. Mentally this will give me a hell of a boost."
With the victory, Federer has also broken the all-time record for Grand Slam wins, now sitting atop the list with 307 victories. The 34-year-old now becomes the oldest player to reach the semifinals at The All England Club since 1974.
Cilic takes first set in tiebreak
Both players came out firing on his respective serve. In the fifth game, however, the Swiss number one raced out to a 15-40 lead, earning two crucial break points. As has plagued him in the past, Federer struggled to convert either of the two chances before Cilic held for a 3-2 lead.
Those were the only two break points of the entire first set, and looking back, Federer only wishes he had those two early chances back. The first set headed to a tiebreak. With a blink of an eye, Cilic was up five points to nothing. The entire crowd seemed stunned. Cilic was playing crisp tennis, hitting the ball better than ever in the set. The 17-time Grand Slam champion made a push back, but Cilic took the opener 7-6 (4).
Ninth seed races out to two set to love lead
After losing the first set in a disappointing tiebreak, Federer could not turn his momentum around in the second set. Almost immediately, Cilic earned a break point on the Federer serve, something he could not do in the first set. The world number 13 converted one of the break points to go up two games to one. In the very next game, Federer earned a break point back, however, Cilic came in clutch, saving it to later consolidate his break. Cilic rode that break out until the end, taking the second set 6-4.
Swiss Maestro storms back to take third set
Just as it seemed that the seven-time Wimbledon champion was headed to his first straight-sets loss at The All England Club since 2002, Federer regained some of his magic in the third set. The turn of the set came in the seventh game. Cilic raced out to a 0-40 lead on the Federer serve. A break to go up 4-3 would have all but sealed the match for the Croatian. Federer seemingly had different plans.
The Fed-Express saved all three break points before holding the game. The crowd, which had been quiet up to this point, rose to its feet immediately, giving the 17-time Grand Slam champion a standing ovation. In the next game, the third seed kept his momentum on the rise. He raced out to a 0-30 lead and eventually broke the ninth seed for a 5-3 advantage.
For the first time since the first set, Federer regained his spark. Quickly enough, Federer took the third set, 6-3 as momentum began to shift towards the Swiss’ racket.
Federer saves three match points, forces fifth set in epic tiebreak
After taking the third set, the third seed seemed to find some of his usual magic. In the third game, however, Cilic was close to derailing all of his work. The ninth seed earned two break points in the third game, but the former world number one saved both before holding. Federer in turn then gained two break chances of his own in the fifth game, but Cilic this time held his nerve, hitting aces on both break points. He hit another one before holding the game.
In the tenth game, Federer found himself down a match point. The seven-time Wimbledon champion held his nerve and saved it. After Cilic held, Federer served to remain in the match. once again, he found himself one point from losing. He remained tough and held to force another tiebreak. Both competitors showed unbelievable resolve throughout this pressure-filled tiebreak. This one had it all, from mini-breaks to aces to steel-tight nerve.
Federer saved another match point and Cilic saved four set points. Each player had his opportunities, yet both the third and ninth seeds played so tough.
Eventually, on his fifth set point chance, the seven-time champion at The All England Club hit a booming return, to which Cilic forced the ball into the net. As the crowd erupted with joy, Federer forced a final set.
Swiss Maestro completes the comeback
Because Federer won the previous set on the Cilic serve, the Swiss Maestro got to serve first in the deciding set. The Swiss Maestro remained tough on serve, as did the ninth seed. Federer gained his first shot to break in the fifth game, yet once again, he failed to convert the break point, perhaps the greatest Achilles-Heel of the Federer game.
No breaks could be found through the first seven games. The 17-time Grand Slam earned another chance in the eighth game. With a ferocious forehand on the run, Federer earned his second break shot of the game. The Swiss number one ripped a forehand on the run, to which Cilic hit his shot out.
Federer broke for 5-3 and served this epic out. As all would expect, the Swiss number one served it out, completing the hardest comeback in the sport of tennis. With a roar, Federer had advanced into the semifinals, his 40th Grand Slam semifinal. Centre Court erupted in cheer, as did Henman Hill, also known as Murray Mound.
The Fed-Express finished the match with 27 aces and zero double faults. Cilic hit 23 aces and seven double faults. Federer hit 67 winners over the five sets, compared to 59 for the Croatian number one.
Federer advances to the semifinals at Wimbledon for the 11th time in his historic career. In fact, the seven-time Wimbledon champion has never lost in a semifinal at The All England Club. He will face Canadian number one and sixth-seeded Milos Raonic, who took out American Sam Querrey in four sets.
Should Federer find a way to advance to the final, he will undoubtedly have to thank Querrey for taking out Novak Djokovic in the third round.