Enlarge imageBy Martyn Herman
LONDON (Reuters) - Roger Federer sprinkled his magic all over Centre Court on Friday to reach a seventh consecutive Wimbledon men's singles final and underline the challenge facing anyone trying to stop him reclaiming his grasscourt crown.
The Swiss, bidding for a sixth Wimbledon title after Spain's Rafael Nadal stole his limelight last year, was at his flamboyant best to beat German's Tommy Haas 7-6 7-5 6-3 in his 21st consecutive grand slam semi-final.
Federer unleashed every shot in his armoury against a gallant Haas, ending the two-hour exhibition with a slam dunk smash reminiscent of Pete Sampras whose record of 14 grand slam titles he can break in Sunday's final where victory would also return him to number one in the rankings.
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Despite precious little happening on the All England Club's outside courts, the grounds were already buzzing with anticipation with thousands of fans pouring through the gates on a muggy morning to watch Andy Murray try and become the first British man to reach the final since 1938 by taming the fury of Andy Roddick's firecracker serve.
Up on the grassy banks of Henman Hill, named after Britain's four-times losing semi-finalist here, they watched Federer's masterclass with a sense of wonder -- and maybe a little dread.
In this form Federer looks simply unstoppable.
"It's quite staggering now, having reached again I think it's my sixth straight grand slam final," Federer, who hit 49 winners of mind-boggling variety and offered up not one break point chance for Haas, told reporters.
"Having so many things going for me now, an opportunity again on Sunday, it's fantastic. Quite amazing to be back in the Wimbledon final already because it seems like now all of a sudden everything happened very quickly."
The only time Federer looked remotely flustered was in the fourth game of the third set when, after a ferocious exchange of groundstrokes, Haas landed a backhand on a rough patch of the baseline and it leapt like a kicking horse off Federer's frame.
If the German could have hit that uneven spot 100 times he may have stood a chance, but that would require a touch genius and that was all on the other side of the net.
"He just comes up with the goods," Haas, who reached his first Wimbledon semi-final said. "He can play defensive and turn it into attack like no other player, that makes him so extremely tough. I think he has the edge over everybody."
Third seed Murray's clinical performance against Spain's Juan Carlos Ferrero in the quarter-finals turned Murray-mania up another notch and it is set to reach hysterical levels later when he takes on twice Wimbledon runner-up Roddick.
After the blazing sunshine of recent days gave way to grey skies but blue skies returned in time for Murray's tea-time appointment on Centre Court.
Murray, who has looked incredibly relaxed despite the burden of ending decades of under-achievement by British men, has played down the hype all week and will be wary of Roddick, who has served 139 aces in five matches here.
The American former world number one has been written off in some quarters but unlike Murray, he already has a grand slam title to his name and will provide a formidable barrier for the Scot.
(Editing by Pritha Sarkar)
