Wimbledon: Federer dismisses Nadal and joins Djokovic in the final

Roger Federer took his revenge Friday on Rafael Nadal [courtesy]

Stainless. Eleven years after their memorable final, Roger Federer took his revenge Friday on Rafael Nadal: soon to be 38, the Swiss qualified for the 12th time in the final of Wimbledon where he will find Novak Djokovic for another classic.

Federer, who took revenge on Nadal a month after his defeat in the semifinals at Roland Garros, can dream of a 9th coronation in London, synonymous with a 21st Grand Slam.

- The revenge of Federer -

Eleven years after their masterpiece in the final on the Central Wimbledon, a match forever in history, the reunion on grass between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, these two legends, have kept all their promises. The two had already met in Paris a month ago: but their semifinal, largely won by Nadal on clay and ruined by the wind, had not reached these heights.

In both cases, Federer had lost. This time, he won, and in what way! Except for the second set, which was almost abandoned in a rather strange way by the Swiss, who scored only 3 points after being at 15-40 a game all over the service of Nadal, the eight-time winner on the grass. London illuminated the game. His setback, his speed of play and his service disrupted the Spaniard who seemed to have never been so comfortable on the turf since the beginning of the tournament. But no doubt pressed by Federer's quick play, he has committed too many unusual mistakes.

"If I played very well throughout the tournament and today I was not able to play as well, there is always a reason, probably because he was doing a lot of good things," summarized Nadal.

After a good resistance late in the game, saving four match points, he ended up losing 7-6 (3), 1-6, 6-3, 6-4.

"It's always special to play against + Rafa + I had good times when I served well The important points were for me Take the first set was huge Take the lead was very important, "said Federer.

As each time the two play against each other, this duel, the 40th, will remain in the story. As the following. Roger, now the oldest since the Australian Ken Rosewall (finalist of the US Open in 1974 at age 39) to play in a Grand Slam final, found the 3rd member of "Big 3" for the third time in the final of Wimbledon (he had lost in 2014 and 2015).

- Djokovic at the rendezvous -

The world No.1 will have reached this stage without beating a top 20 in the fortnight, a clear path but whose last stage was not so quiet.

Faced with Roberto Bautista Agut (22), who had beaten him twice this year on the circuit in Doha and Miami, Djokovic had to whip a little more than usual. If the Spaniard put a set before warming up, he pocketed the second run, which did not please at all to + Djoko +. The pride of the Serbian served as a motor, and the meeting rose a notch in intensity. The proof? This rally of 45 shots between the two players in the 3rd set, the longest exchange ever recorded since 2005 on the London turf. But at this game, + Djoko + is too strong (6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2).

The Spaniard, who was supposed to be in Ibiza for his bachelor party, assured that he would probably go on Saturday. "I think I deserve a vacation," he said. He may watch the final Sunday, the return of a classic in tennis that has been very rare in recent years.

The roads of Djokovic and Federer have crossed only twice in four years, in the semifinals in 2016 at the Australian Open in Melbourne and in the final of Cincinnati in 2018. Two matches, two wins for Djokovic. They have not clashed in the final of a Grand Slam since the US Open in 2015. Again, the Serb had won.

"Novak was still imperial, he is rock solid, I hope he can push him to the limit and beat him, but he is not N.1 worldwide for nothing, it's exciting to play him," he said. Federer.