Federer Marches on

Two lengthy rain delays and a two-man protest failed to hinder the serene progress of Roger Federer into Friday's semi-finals.

The immaculate Swiss, who has yet to drop a set in the Championships, demonstrated his full array of shots to dismiss Mario Ancic 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 and remain on course for a fourth successive Wimbledon title.

"It's great to be in the semi-finals again," he said. "I thought I played a terrific match. I was prepared for a difficult match because I knew he could be very dangerous. I'm even more surprised to come through so convincingly."

His record-extending 46th consecutive win on grass lasted under two hours but was prolonged by the loss of two and a half hours to rain before the Swiss ace clinched a ninth successive Grand Slam semi-final.

Federer also had to contend with a brief stoppage caused by two fathers' rights campaigners, who were arrested after attempting to play a rally on Centre Court, but never allowed it to affect his concentration.

Ancic, the last man to beat Federer on grass back in 2002, also has a habit of producing his best tennis at Wimbledon but he was simply unable to live with the brilliance of the champion.

The first four games passed without a hint of a break but, when play resumed after the first rain break, Federer went out to make up for lost time.

He forced three break points as Ancic's first serve deserted him and, drawing his opponent to the net, passed him with ease to open up a 3-2 lead.

The champion consolidated the break and maintained his focus despite the intervention of the pranksters.

Ancic had a great chance to break back after Federer double faulted but he netted a forehand and there was to be no second chance as the Swiss ace served out to take the first set 6-4.

Ancic was immediately in more trouble at the start of the second set as the champion began to display his full repertoire of strokes.

A whipped forehand clinched the break while a backhand return winner in the next game were clear signs that Federer was beginning to find his form.

He was 3-2 ahead and ready to serve when the rain returned for a second time, forcing another delay of just under an hour.

But nothing could disrupt the focused Federer, who unleashed his full power to run the 22-year-old Croat ragged in the eighth game and served out to take the set 6-4.

The third set followed a familiar pattern, with Federer breaking his increasingly dispirited opponent in the opening game.

A brilliant get from an acute Ancic volley at the net brought gasps from the crowd and applause from his opponent as Federer achieved a second break and cruised into a 4-0 lead.

The champion suffered a hiccup when he dropped his serve - for only the second time in the Championships - and he was forced to pull out another stunning shot, a 16th forehand winner, to save a third break point. But normal service was quickly resumed as Federer served out for the win, ending the match with a seventh ace.

Federer admitted that the rain delays had had little effect on his performance. "I definitely got on a roll," he said. "Usually rain delays slow you up but they really got me going. I came out of the blocks each time."