Another chapter in history this time goes Federer’s way

“He is always able to do the most difficult things easy.”

Like reaching a Wimbledon final at almost 38 years old? Like hitting 24 more winners than errors against one of the best baseline players in the sport? Like avenging a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 loss one month earlier?

It was not easy, but Roger Federer did all of that–and more–during a 7-6(3), 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Rafael Nadal in the Wimbledon semifinals on Friday evening, after which Nadal bestowed the aforementioned praise on his great rival. Facing Nadal for the first time in 11 years at Wimbledon but just five weeks after getting blown out in the French Open semis, Federer turned in a vintage performance to triumph in three hours and two minutes. The Swiss struck almost twice as many winners (51) as errors (27), including 14 aces compared to just one double-fault.

“Obviously extremely high,” Federer said when asked where this ranked among his plethora of impressive exploits at the All-England Club. “It’s always very, very cool to play against Rafa here, especially (because we) haven’t played (here) in so long.”

The eight-time Wimbledon champion is now 3-1 against Nadal at Wimbledon and 14-10 on surfaces other than clay, trailing the overall head-to-head series 24-16. This one may not live in history like the 2008 final, but it was spectacular by mere mortals’ standards. It was highlighted by a whole host of incredible baseline rallies–a surprising majority of which the world No. 3 won–and a dramatic clinching service hold at 5-4 in the fourth set.

“It lived up to the hype, especially from coming out of the gates we were both playing very well,” Federer assessed. “Then the climax at the end with the crazy last game, some tough rallies there. I mean, I don’t know. It had everything at the end, which was great, I guess. I’m just relieved it’s all over at this point.

“But it’s definitely, definitely going to go down as one of my favorite matches to look back at–again, because it’s Rafa, it’s at Wimbledon, the crowds were into it, great weather…. I felt like I played good, also, throughout the four sets. I can be very happy.”

Happy, yes, but not for too long.

Federer’s reward for beating his historical No. 1 rival is a showdown against his No. 1 rival in terms of quantity. It’s Federer vs. Novak Djokovic for the 48th time on championship Sunday.

“I know it’s not over yet,” Federer noted. “There’s no point to start partying tonight or get too emotional, too happy about it, even though I am extremely happy…. If it was the end of the tournament, it would be very different right now. I’d be speaking very different; feeling very different. There is, unfortunately or fortunately, one more.

“It’s great on many levels. But (I) got to put my head down and stay focused.”

It’s not over yet. There’s one more to go. There’s more history to make.