Wimbledon: Federer Still on Course for History

Roger Federer comes to court wearing trousers while all the other men are still in shorts. It is a fashion statement, of course, and his exquisitely tailored flannels match the splendor of his jacket. But it is more than that. For even when his game is not at its most rarefied level, and even when his most subtle touches are literally blown off course, as they were here yesterday during his 7-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 quarter-final victory over Juan Carlos Ferrero, he walks Wimbledon as a man among boys.

Having put clear daylight between himself and all his rivals he is now hunting down history, and history is starting to look a little nervous. Just as Tiger Woods is chasing Jack Nicklaus's 18 majors, Federer is driven by Pete Sampras's record of 14 grand slam titles. If he wins the final here tomorrow he will draw level with Bjorn Borg and Rod Laver on 11 and will be just one behind Roy Emerson. Borg is expected to watch the attempt to equal his run of five Wimbledon titles on the spin. "It's different when you know he's sitting there, somebody you admire, who you like," Federer said. "You're not trying to prove yourself but in the back of your mind you always know he's there."

As for his contest with history, he added: "I don't see it as a pressure. I see it more as a fun thing, a challenge really. It's a dream come true in a way because I never thought I would chase down former greats. My dream was to play at Wimbledon maybe once. If then the dream comes true, maybe win once. It all came true."

Federer was idle between his victory over Marat Safin on Friday and the start of his match against Ferrero on Thursday. He was a long way off his best yesterday. They restarted the match at 5-5 in the opening set and he won it on the tie-break. But in the eighth game of the second set he made no fewer than five mistakes on his forehand and was broken. Ferrero served out to take the set 6-3.

In the third set, Federer was too strong and broke Ferrero in the fourth and, with a backhand pass down the line, the sixth game to take it 6-1. In the fourth set he broke in the third and gave himself a match point with a breathtaking forehand crosscourt pass which clipped the line. A similar stroke won him the match.

But, despite his many little miracles, there was still plenty of evidence that he had not found his best game yet. "I knew the danger of my first match after the long break. It could have been an advantage or a disadvantage. Now that I'm through I think it's definitely an advantage."