By Erik Gudris | July 4th, 2014

 

Roger Federer will now seek his eighth Wimbledon title after posting a straight sets win over Milos Raonic in their semifinal.

Photo Credit: Al Bello / Getty

Some thought Roger Federer might never make it back to a major final. But write off the 17-time Grand Slam champion at your own peril.

Now the Swiss Maestro will seek his eighth Wimbledon title having posted a convincing win over Canada's Milos Raonic in their semifinal.

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With this being Raonic's first ever major semifinal, the pressure was on the Canadian to bring the fight to Federer. Especially given Federer had never lost a Wimbledon semifinal in eight previous appearances. While Raonic led all players with the most amount of first serve points won during the tournament at 87%, even he knew he would need yet another sterling serving performance to have even a remote chance against Federer.

That didn't though happen for Raonic who found himself broken right away in the opening game. Though Raonic was expected to perhaps be a bit tight early on, Federer himself looked calm and focused. Attacking Raonic's second serve, Federer then moved forward and casually closed out winning volleys.

With a return winner, Raonic earned his first, and only, break point opportunity at 4-3. Federer responded with better serving and soon held for 5-3.

Keeping hold of his break lead, Federer would get into a little trouble serving for the set up 5-4. But with another successful serve and volley foray followed by a wayward slice backhand from Raonic, the No. 4 seed soon claimed the set 6-4.

Raonic eventually settled into the second set and started getting his expected free points off big first serves. But unable to make any inroads into Federer's serve would end up costing Raonic again. With the match having few rallies of any note, a tiebreak felt inevitable as each kept holding serve.

Federer made his move at 4-all. With a perfect down the line backhand winner, Federer soon had 0-30. Raonic would just miss on an overhead smash that granted Federer three break points. Another down the line backhand winner from Federer gave him 5-4.

Raonic tested Federer again who served for a two sets to love lead. Federer blocked back several tight volleys up at net and then just managed to reach a Raonic pass sending it over for a winner. A potent serve from Federer gave him another 6-4 set.

With time running out, a surge in Raonic's game never felt imminent. Instead, what did feel inevitable was another break of serve for Federer. That came at 4-all when Raonic's level dipped. A poor attempt at a backhand slice from Raonic ended up in the net. That gave Federer 0-40 and, when Raonic sent a wayward forehand long, the former champion found himself serving for the final.

Though pushed to 30-all serving at 5-4, Federer didn't waver. Federer followed up a big serve with a winning forehand giving him his first match point. He wouldn't need to wait any more as another fiery serve clinched the 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory.

Federer won 24 out of 32 ventures up at net while striking 32 winners and just 11 unforced errors.

Here's what Federer had to say just afterwards.