Wimbledon 2017, day 11 live: Roger Federer, Tomas Berdych, Marin Cilic and Sam Querrey on men's semi-final day
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Your support makes all the difference.The path to an eighth Wimbledon title appears wide open for Roger Federer as the Swiss goes into Friday's semi-final against Tomas Berdych in imperious form and heavily favoured to claim a record-extending 19th grand slam crown.
Federer is the only member of the so-called "big four" left in the draw after Rafa Nadal, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic all failed to make it past the quarter-finals and few would bet against the 35-year-old from claiming victory on a surface he loves.
The third seed is two victories away from moving clear of Pete Sampras and William Renshaw at the top of the list of men's Wimbledon champions and will meet either Croatia's Marin Cilic or American Sam Querrey should he get past Berdych.
Federer has yet to drop a set at this year's championships and the form guide suggests he will prevail against Berdych, with the Swiss on a seven-match winning streak against the Czech player, who has not beaten him since 2013.
Follow game by game coverage of both men's semi-finals with our live blog below...
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Federer* 4-3 Berdych (*denotes next server)
From 15-15 Berdych wins the next two points courtesy of an ace and a missed forehand pass by Federer. The Czech's first game point goes begging as Federer sneaks into the net and puts away a backhand volley... and the second one also disappears in a flash courtesy of a delicious backhand winner from the Swiss maestro's racket. Berdych stands firm though and holds as Federer nets a couple of groundstrokes.
Federer* 4-5 Berdych (*denotes next server)
A Federer forehand error followed by a missed return puts Berdych 30-0 up in the game. The Czech then dispatches a nice backhand volley to bring up three game points, of which he needs just one as he hammers an ace out wide.
Federer* 5-6 Berdych (*denotes next server)
Berdych fends off two break points as he guarantees himself a first-set tie-break at the very least.
Federer* 7-6(4) Berdych (*denotes next server)
The first three points of the breaker go with serve and it is Berdych who blinks first as Federer sneaks into the net to put away a backhand volley and move 3-1 up. The Swiss shanks a backhand to lose the next point but sends down an unreturnable serve to go to the change of ends with a 4-2 lead.
Berdych claws the mini break back momentarily as Federer sends a short forehand long but he gifts it straight back with a bad miss on a short forehand.
The Czech sends down an unreturnable serve to move to within a point of Federer but a forehand error on the next point hands the third seed two set points, of which he needs just one as Berdych shanks a backhand.
Federer* 7-6(4) 1-1 Berdych (*denotes next server)
Berdych starts the game with an unreturnable serve but loses the next point with a netted inside-out forehand. A missed drop shot by Federer follows but the Swiss hauls the game to 30-30 as he draws a forehand error out of Berdych. However, the 10th seed manages to get himself out of trouble with back-to-back unreturnable serves to hold to 30.
Federer 7-6(4) 5-4 Berdych* (*denotes next server)
Federer follows an unreturnable serve with a forehand error but wins the next two points courtesy of a missed forehand pass by Berdych and a staggering backhand pass of his own. At 40-15 Berdych sends a forehand return long as Federer keeps his nose ahead in this second set.
Federer* 7-6(4) 5-5 Berdych (*denotes next server)
Federer starts the game with a missed backhand but makes up for it with a backhand winner down the line to win the next point. Berdych then sends a forehand long to fall 15-30 behind on serve but an ace down the T eases a bit of the pressure. A routine volley and an ace out wide seal the hold for the Czech.
Federer 7-6(4) 7-6(4) Berdych* (*denotes next server)
The first two points go with serve before Federer produces three cross-court forehand winners in a row to go 4-1 up. The Swiss mixes things up on the next point, throwing in an inside-out forehand for good measure - and the result is the same as Berdych can barely get a racket on the ball.
At 1-5 down Berdych rockets down an unreturnable serve before Federer hands one of the mini breaks back with a double fault. However, the third seed brings up three set points as he swats away a cross-court forehand passing shot by Berdych at the net.
Berdych saves the first break point with an inside out forehand... but can't stave off the second as he sends a backhand into the net.
Federer 7-6(4) 7-6(4) 1-1 Berdych* (*denotes next server)
Federer wins four points in a row from 0-30 down to hold serve.
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