LONDON: Roger Federer reached a ninth Wimbledon final after suppressing bullet-serving giant Milos Raonic 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 with a masterful display of the grasscourt arts here on Friday.

Chasing a record eighth title at the All England Club, Federer set up a mouthwatering final against top seed and 2011 champion Novak Djokovic with an almost casual demolition of Canadian.

The 17-time grand slam champion broke in the opening game and then comfortably saw out the first set before breaking decisively in the ninth games of both the second and third sets, with his opponent unable to gain a foothold in the match.

The 32-year-old Swiss played most of the match at walking pace and finished off his opponent in one hour 41 minutes, clenching his fist in a restrained celebration when Raonic hit a backhand return wide on match point.

Earlier, top seed Novak Djokovic halted the charge of talented Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, beating the 11th seed 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(2), 7-6(7) in an exhilarating see-saw contest to reach the final.

The six-time grand slam champion had to draw on all the experience gleaned in 23 major semi-finals to get the better of 23-year-old Dimitrov, who was on a roll after winning the pre-Wimbledon tournament at Queen’s Club and downing third-seeded champion Andy Murray in the quarter-finals.

“It’s a good win for me. I am really pleased to be part of another entertaining match,” Djokovic said.

“Considering that I have lost the past couple of grand slam finals — and all these matches I could have won — I am looking forward.”

Both players slipped and slid along the dusty Centre Court baselines, frequently losing their footing.

But Djokovic started smoothly, breaking the serve of the Bulgarian, nicknamed “Baby-Fed” for expansive shot-making reminiscent of Roger Federer, in the fifth game of the first set and claiming it in only 27 minutes.

The Serb, who was runner-up last year, looked to be cruising when he broke again in the third game of the second set.

But Dimitrov, watched anxiously by girlfriend and former champion Maria Sharapova, raised his energy to reel off five games in a row to level the score.

Two gladiatorial sets followed by tiebreaks were testament to the intensity of the contest.

With the match on a knife-edge, it was Djokovic who found the extra grit. He saved a set point in the ninth game of the fourth set and three in the tiebreak before sealing victory with a crosscourt forehand winner.

Published in Dawn, July 5th , 2014