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Ivo Karlovic was bombarded with questions about how it was that Roger Federer
was able to tame his murderous serve when everyone else at Wimbledon found
it simply unfathomable and unbreakable.
The slayed giant kept shrugging, trying vainly to explain it before he finally
came up with what he felt was the most reasonable explanation. "It is only
because he is better than everybody else," concluded Karlovic. "That's it."
Sounds fair enough. Some things are inexplicable. Like how Federer was able to
take a serve which had been unbroken in 80 games over four matches and crack
the code almost instantly, sending three booming deliveries rocketing
straight back past the Croat.
It is pretty difficult to look commanding against a bloke who is careering 23
aces past you. Federer did, though. He made it appear so straightforward
after breaking Karlovic in his second service game, it felt like watching
Red Adair tackling a kiddies' bonfire.
At 6ft 10in Karlovic finds himself a bit nearer the sun than your average
grass courter. He reckoned he hadn't been able to see properly because of
the glare during that service game, so he reached for some sunglasses.
Unfortunately, they only served to make him look faintly ludicrous, like an
undercover stilt-walker, and did nothing to stop the blinding brilliance
across the net. He could recognise that clearly enough.
"He's maybe like best player ever, but on the grass I think he's by far the
best," shrugged Karlovic after the 6-3, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3) defeat. Could anyone
beat him? "Well, this year, honestly no."
It felt difficult to argue for, in many ways, this was Federer's most
impressive performance yet this year at an event where he has offered
glimpses of his old peerless 2006 self.
Playing Karlovic must be a test of nerve, patience and concentration. One
loose service game and a set can be history. Yet Federer was granite solid.
He made only seven unforced errors in an hour and 43 minutes, lost just 11
points on his serve, played two sensational games for two breaks and wrapped
up proceedings with a consummate tie-break.
Grass brings out the best of him. Maybe, grass without Rafa Nadal brings out
something more; a comforting memory of his old ruthless charges to five
titles. "I think especially on grass, all my strength becomes even better,"
he reflected afterwards. "I become so much more dangerous."
The experience, the short points, the quick kills in his service games, the
ease of movement on the turf. It is where he feels most at home. We know
Andy Murray has the beating of Federer. But on grass?
First, though, there is the little matter of Tommy Haas in the semi-final.
Just five weeks ago at the French Open, the German was two sets up and had a
break point for a 5-3 lead in the third over Federer before the Swiss
launched one of the finest comebacks of his career.
"Brutal," was Federer's verdict on that encounter. What got him through that
day? "Belief, I guess," said Federer. That may well be the difference on
Friday.
Haas is rejuvenated and a man he describes as "talented, one of the best ball
strikers in the game" often gives Federer a tough game - their three grand
slam encounters all panned out to five sets - but the Swiss has won their
last eight encounters. It is hard to believe that Haas truly believes any
more, after his Paris experience.
Federer, though, just ploughs on. On Friday, he will be playing his 21st
consecutive grand slam semi-final which, almost above any of his other
landmarks, is the one which appears to satisfy him most. It is a measure of
the longevity of his excellence.
"It means a lot to me. Just being so consistent for so long and reaching
another semi-final. It's been quite a streak I'm on and I'm happy it's still
alive."
And kicking. There was a moment yesterday when Karlovic had the briefest
chance to earn his first break point of the day only to miss a simple
volley. It was his only mistake but his chance was over in a split second.
"I really couldn't do anything much better. I don't know what else I could
do," he said. It was expressed with the same exasperation that many better
players than the Croat have felt down the years. Only Murray now, surely,
has the equipment to avoid this same old lament.
Telegraph
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