Roger Federer and Kevin Anderson will be going head-to-head for the fifth time in their careers when they battle for a place in the Wimbledon semifinals on Wednesday.
All four of their previous encounters have gone the way of Federer, who is 8-0 in total sets against Anderson and has never even been pushed to a tiebreaker. The two veterans have not faced each other since 2015, when the Swiss prevailed 6-3, 7-5 on the red clay of Rome and 6-1, 6-1 on the hard courts of Cincinnati.
It is no surprise that they are finally meeting again in this setting, the quarterfinals a the All-England Club. Federer, of course, is an eight-time champion of Wimbledon with a 96-11 lifetime record. The current world No. 2 did drop a single set en route to last year’s title and he has not come close to doing so this fortnight. Federer punched his ticket to the last eight by soundly defeating Dusan Lajovic, Lukas Lacko, Jan-Lennard Struff, and Adrian Mannarino.
Anderson is an all-court player whose best Grand Slam result has come at the U.S. Open (2017 runner-up), but he is perhaps most dangerous on grass. This marks the eighth-ranked South African’s fourth appearance in the Wimbledon second week (all in the last five years) and first trip to the quarterfinals. Anderson, who is a stellar 27-10 this season, has not lost at Wimbledon in less than five sets since 2014–to Andy Murray in the fourth round.
“One of my many goals was to try to get a personal-best achievement here,” Anderson commented. “(I have) lost in the round of 16 a few times…. I can definitely feel good about making it through to the last eight here for the first time.
“I am really looking forward to [the quarterfinal against Federer]. Obviously it will be a tough challenge. I think it’s a pretty exciting opportunity to play Federer here at Wimbledon.”
It may be a memorable moment for the underdog, but it probably won’t be fun while it is actually in progress. Federer has been absolutely trouncing people and he has always been known to raise his level even higher in the latter stages of big tournaments when the competition level ratchets up–which it does in the form of Anderson. A couple of sets could be competitive because of Anderson’s serving prowess, but the 36-year-old should not have too much trouble improving to 5-0 in this matchup.
Pick: Federer in 3 with at least one tiebreaker
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Yesss! One down, two to go!
Vamos Rafa!
Yep!! Vamos!!
I. Am. Stressed.
I would be too, if this was Rafa!! Roger just needs to try to apply more pressure on Andersons’s serve, try something!!
Aw man, Benny. Are you watching it?
Yeah I was for a little bit. But I had to work this summer tennis camp for kids (literally the first time I’ve had to ALL SUMMER) so I missed a solid 80% of the match including the last two games. I left at 11-11 because I had to get back to the camp then I check my phone five minutes later and it’s over. I’m shocked to say the least…. 😔😔
Isner and Raonic are stressed too 🙂
Ooops, Anderson will serve for match!! Oh my God, need to see this for myself!!! Wow!!!
Wow! Anderson breaks! Will he be able to finish this?
Oh my God!!…I can’t believe this!!…Is it real??We Rafans used to this at Wimby..But Fed??Just be strong Fedfans…
It seems like 99% of matches that Fed loses the past couple years are when he had match points and couldn’t convert. It can’t be good for his spirit.
Yeah. He was so close to win this match in 3. Had match point. And won overall more points during the match. It hurts. But I can’t do anything. Just accept it.
Well done Kevin!
U c!! I just had this feeling!
Anyway, congrats to Anderson!
Absolutely astonishing. And heartbreaking for Fed. Can it give any solice to Fed to know that he shouldn’t be going deep in slams at his age anyway? You’d think it would all seem like gravy at this point, but it’s just not the way these guys are wired.
Speechless 😭😭😭.
Oh God!!…I don’t believe this!!…So so very sorry to ALL Fedfans!!…But Rog was playing awesome too today!…I think,the pressure of catching up with Rafa takes it’s toll on him…
For Anderson & his fans!…U R AWESOME TOO!!…I thought when he lost in the 1st set,he will be gone in a blink of an eye..But,credit to u Big Boy!…
You are good at what you do 😂.
Truly am sorry to the Fedfans reading here. I was rooting for him to beat Anderson.
Congrats to Anderson tho – it’s a big moment for him.
Sorry to the Fed fans. But I do remember some saying that if Rafa should get to the final he would be embarrassed by Fed. Never take anything for granted. That’s why I take it one match at a time.
This one will be tough for Fed. He was up two sets and had s match point. I give all due credit to Anderson for staying in it and fighting hard. It was a brilliant effort on his part. No one gave him a chance to win this.
The good Fed fans here deserve respect. I know this is hard. Hang in there.
Well,at least some of us were right before the tourney started ,that Fed might not win.
No Fedal final,can’t say Ill miss it.
Yes Big Al. Many picked Cilic, myself included. I didn’t think Fed would make it this time. And no, we won’t miss the Fedal.
But I think he’ll be back. Hope so for all his fan’s sake.
N. Djokovic and Juan Martin Del Potro/R. Nadal are the favourites to win this title now.
Good to hear from you Nny.
Ricky,
Left you a message on site rules and maintenance. Hope you find it when you have time. Thanks
Thank you for the nice comments, Rafa fans. This site is sooo much better off when people play nice and are respectful.
Fed fans truly have little reason to feel bad. He has won 3 majors at an age when nobody makes noise at majors at all, or are just retired all together. Think about what all the all-one greats would say who would would have killed to still be competing for majors at 36, let alone winning them.
This one will surely sting for a bit, but these years should be viewed as all gravy. And it’s not like he’s just suddenly washed up- there is no reason he can’t win another major by the end of next year.
Keep ya heads up!
Wow, just wow! Didn’t see this coming! It’s not so much that Fed lost – but blowing a 2-set lead including a couple of matchpoints – that is truly surreal. Don’t know what to say, except: commiseration to all Fedfans here! Your guy did so much better than it has ever been expected after 2016. He has been the best over-thirty player ever in the history of tennis. This will probably never be outdone by anyone. But something had to give eventually at his age. No miracle lasts forever. And to be fair – there have been some faint signs in the wall. Fed didn’t play stellar during this grass season. But except for Coric he didn’t encounter a true challenge until today. Therefore it was masked.
All that said, I’m still a bit shocked by the way of this loss…
So, no second edition of “The Greatest Match Ever Played”. Frankly, as a Rafafan I’m relieved! I couldn’t have coped with the ensuing hype.
And considering that Roger was apparently not exactly in top form, maybe Fedfans should be relieved, too ☺
Apparently Djokovic complained and begged for more time on Center Court so he got his wish. I’m not saying this is why Fed lost but it couldn’t have helped to face Slightly different conditions and bounce of the ball. Then again, all the others must face this and adapt as well. It’s just Fed has played on Centre so many matches in a row because of how many the guy has won here. It just annoys me as a Fed fan that Djokovic had to go and make the tournament directors give him Centre Court and kind of halt his “center court mojo” so to speak. He should’ve been able to win regardless and looked comofortable enough to do so. Congrats to Anderson but I till want Djokovic to get smoked in the semis 😠😔 #SaltyBennyIsUnleashed
Also, my wish will not be granted. I have a feeling Djokovic is taking it all this fortnight…
Has Federer himself come out and stated what you are saying Benny, that he’s put-off about Novak doing that?
Heck no. I’m just salty and unreasonably annoyed at Djokovic 😂 No excuses for Fed in all seriousness. I mean cmon he was up two sets to love with match point 😭
lol, okay.
IF its true that Novak asked for CC. I find that very cheesy!! What difference does it make which court you play! I mean seriousness?! The tournament directors have their policies, y should they bend them for any one player?! God knows what else Novak will be asking!
Djokovic did ask, but it wasn’t an unreasonable request. Fed has played all his matches on CC this year and last until this one, and the usual custom is for everyone to play at least one match off CC.
Although Fed kept looking down at the court, the real problem was the pace and placement of Anderson’s ground-strokes. Fed did not play badly at all today. He mostly served great and hit some incredible shots. Sure his FH wasn’t working at its best, but Anderson had a lot to do with that. Today he was just better, especially on the big points.
It wasn’t an unreasonable request, since on paper Kei/Novak promissed to be a thriller while Fed/Anderson was thought to be a dud. It turned out to be just the other way round, lol!
I’m surprised nevertheless that Novak asked! But since the spectators and the umpire had treated him really badly during his match against Edmund they could hardly refuse and had to show him some love.
Hey Benny, Novak is still a long way off from winning it all. There are still three guys left who will do their utmost to prevent it. And I don’t think that Rafa is such an underdog in the upcoming match. Far from it. Te Djoker simply hasn’t been tested, yet. And Rafa should feel great after finally getting over the five-setter hump at a slam again.
I don’t think that the court change had anything whatsoever to do with Fed’s loss today. Heck, he was leading two sets and had a match point! I still can’t believe he lost. It’s surreal!