Andy Murray: Will Federer break British hearts on Friday?

Seven-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer will contest his 10th semi-final at The Championships on Friday against Andy Murray, after beating Gilles Simon 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 in a match twice interrupted by rain on Wednesday at the All England Club.

World number One, Novak Djokovic is still on course for another major, after thrashing Marin Cilic in three straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

And France’s Richard Gasquet remains the only French man standing in the last four, having edged Roland Garros champion, Swiss man, Stan Waerinka in a five-setter.

Federer at 33-years-old has a perfect 9-0 record in Wimbledon semi-finals and is looking to reach his 26th major final.

Federer has only been beaten in the Wimbledon final twice: by Rafael Nadal in 2008 and Novak Djokovic in 2014.

Federer won his 17th and most recent Grand Slam championship at the All England Club three years ago, beating Murray in the final.

The Swiss is looking to become the first man in history to win eight Wimbledon titles; he has a 78-9 tournament record.

Expectation is also high for Djokovic, as he looks forward to meeting Gasquet for his 651st match victory.

“I’m hoping I have that extra gear,” said Djokovic. “I’m hoping it can come out now in semi-finals, [the] most important matches, [the] final stages of the tournament.”

In recording his 50th victory at Wimbledon, the World No. 1 reached his 27th Grand Slam semi-final and took sole ownership of fourth place in the list of most major semi-final appearances in the Open Era, behind Roger Federer (38), Jimmy Connors (31) and Ivan Lendl (28).

Home boy, Andy Murray and the third seed and 2013 champion defeated first-time major quarter-finalist Vasek Pospisil 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 on Centre Court in two hours and 11 minutes. Like Federer’s his match was also interrupted by rain.

Murray won the championship in 2013. Federer leads Murray 12-11 in their FedEx ATP Head2Head.

Richard Gasquet’s victory over Stan Wawrinka 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 11-9 prevented a Grand Slam rematch between the reigning Roland Garros champion and World No. 1 Novak Djokovic.

Gasquet was the last French man standing, after compatriot Gilles Simon fell to Roger Federer. Gasquet had lost an 8-6 fifth set to Wawrinka in their most recent meeting two years ago at Roland Garros, but refused to suffer the same fate despite failing to serve out the match at 5-3 in the decisive set and being a break point down at 9-all.
“Even if I lost this important game at 5-3, I kept fighting a lot,” he said. “It was important because I know it’s a great match, playing the winner of Roland Garros in a quarter-final of a Grand Slam, so I need to keep focus, to stay focused, and to fight. Of course, it’s a very nice victory for me to win against him 11-9 in the fifth. It’s great.”

“I’m proud because there are big players in semis,” he said. “I’m the worst when you see Federer, Djokovic and [Andy] Murray and me (smiling). There is something, I want to enjoy it.”