Grand slam greats play second fiddle to Murray mania

LONDON, (Reuters) – A dream semi-final pitching two of the game’s greatest ever players against each other is likely to be a tasty warm-up act for many of the fans in Centre Court today as home favourite Andy Murray bids to reach a maiden Wimbledon final.

World number one Novak Djokovic takes on 16-times grand slam champion Roger Federer in a mouth-watering encounter that would have graced any court on any occasion.

The mention of both names together is usually enough to have tennis fans salivating in Pavlovian anticipation.

As it is, both players could play second fiddle to a Briton with no grand slam titles, who both frustrates and enthuses the home support in equal measure, as he faces Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

After Rafa Nadal’s shock demise in the second round to rocket-launching Czech Lukas Rosol, Murray would be forgiven for thinking he will never have a better opportunity to go beyond the semis – the stage where he has fallen in his last three attempts.

For Djokovic and Federer it would be understandable for them to have a sense of relief that whoever prevails from their battle will not have to face the Mallorcan with 11 slams in a Centre Court showdown on Sunday.

The Serb will be going into today’s tussle with the psychological edge as he has swatted aside the Swiss magician in six of their last seven encounters, the most recent being at the French Open four weeks ago.

Their meeting at the U.S. Open last year, when Federer led by two sets before Djokovic stormed back to win in five, is also likely to be fresh in his memory.

“I don’t feel that any match is over against a top player like Novak is,” Federer said after ruthlessly dispatching Mikhail Youzhny in straight sets in his quarter-final.

“With his ability of his shot-making, you know the match is never over until the umpire calls the score.”

Among the unknowns, however, is how these two will match up on grass and on a court where six-times champion Federer ruled the roost for so many years.

SMART GAME

There have been 26 meetings between the two, with Federer leading 14-12 overall, but Wimbledon’s manicured lawns will play host to the spectacle for the first time.