 | Slideshow |
 | Record performances Take a look at players who have won and put themselves in the record books at the U.S. Open. NBCSports.com |
| Slideshow |
 | NBCSports.com |
Wimbledon |
June 23-July 6 |
There had been pre-tournament suggestions that Federer was more vulnerable this year after failing to win a major title this season and losing in the lopsided final to Nadal in Paris.
“Don’t write me off too quickly because this is my part of the season — Wimbledon, Olympic Games, U.S. Open,” Federer said.
After Federer broke Safin for the second time, flashing a crosscourt backhand winner on match point, he skipped to the net and shared an embrace with the Russian, then pumped his fists and saluted the 15,000-capacity Centre Court crowd.
Nadal had little difficulty with the 32-year-old Schuettler, the lowest ranked player to reach the Wimbledon semifinals (No. 94) in seven years.
Nadal, who dictated the points with his punishing ground strokes, faced his only two break points of the match at 1-1 in the second set. He saved the first but Schuettler hit a crosscourt winner on the second. The German was serving for the set at 5-4, but Nadal broke back and then sailed through the tiebreaker.
Schuettler saved three match points while serving at love-40, 3-5 in the final set, but Nadal served it out at love in the next game.
“Today maybe it wasn’t my best match here this year, but anyway I won in three sets,” Nadal said.
Sisters Venus and Serena Williams will face each other in the women’s final Saturday, their first Grand Slam championship match in five years.
Between them, four-time champion Venus and two-time winner Serena have won six of the last eight Wimbledon titles. Serena beat her old sister in the 2002 and 2003 championship matches and holds an overall 5-1 edge in Grand Slam finals.
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