Federer plots Wimbledon wins

LONDON – Roger Federer could make history by becoming the first man to win six successive Wimbledon titles on Sunday but he won’t be satisfied until he’s added at least five more to his name.

The world number one is unbeaten on grass for six years after racking up his 64th win in a row on the surface by cruising past Mario Ancic on Wednesday to set up a mouthwatering semi-final with Marat Safin. “I’ll have a chance to win this tournament for the next five or 10 years,” insisted the 26-year-old Federer.”Doesn’t matter how I play from here.I think my game’s made for grass.There will always be tough opponents, dangerous opponents.”But I always found a way to win.Of course, my dream is to not only win this year, but for many more years to come.If it doesn’t happen, I’ll try to win the next one again.This is what it’s all about for me at this stage.”If he achieves his goal, it will comfortably make him the most successful Grand Slam winner of all time, surpassing close friend Pete Sampras’s record of 14.At the moment, his running tally stands at 12.However, today he has to get past Safin, a former world number one and US Open and Australian Open champion who’s been the revelation of Wimbledon by defying his world ranking of 75 to reach his first All England Club semi-final.Friday’s match will be the volatile Russian’s first Grand Slam last four appearance since 2005, the year when he beat Federer on his way to lifting the Australian Open, his last trophy performance on the tour.Federer, who holds an 8-2 career winning record over Safin including a straight sets fourth round win here in 2007, has nothing but respect for his opponent.That admiration can only have been enhanced by seeing Safin destroy world number three Novak Djokovic in the second round.For the Swiss, Safin’s current lowly ranking is irrelevant.RAFA IN THE MIX Second seed Rafael Nadal, who has lost to Federer in the last two finals is bidding to be the first Spanish men’s champion here since Manuel Santana in 1966 and only the third man to win Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year.He also had a smooth ride to the last four.He has dropped just one set – against the promising Ernests Gulbis in the second round – and was ruthless in his straight sets demolition of Andy Murray in the quarter-finals.Nadal took Federer to five sets in an epic 2007 final and had chances in the decider to break through.”Last year was close.Only one more point and probably I would have had the trophy in my home,” he said.”I am playing well this year, but I don’t know if it’s enough.”Murray believes Nadal can be considered the favourite after witnessing the Spaniard’s power at close range.”If he plays that well and returns like that, I think he’s very close to being the favourite to win the tournament,” said the Scot.”He was close last year, and I think he’s playing better than he was last year.”Nampa-AFP”I’ll have a chance to win this tournament for the next five or 10 years,” insisted the 26-year-old Federer.”Doesn’t matter how I play from here.I think my game’s made for grass.There will always be tough opponents, dangerous opponents.”But I always found a way to win.Of course, my dream is to not only win this year, but for many more years to come.If it doesn’t happen, I’ll try to win the next one again.This is what it’s all about for me at this stage.”If he achieves his goal, it will comfortably make him the most successful Grand Slam winner of all time, surpassing close friend Pete Sampras’s record of 14.At the moment, his running tally stands at 12.However, today he has to get past Safin, a former world number one and US Open and Australian Open champion who’s been the revelation of Wimbledon by defying his world ranking of 75 to reach his first All England Club semi-final.Friday’s match will be the volatile Russian’s first Grand Slam last four appearance since 2005, the year when he beat Federer on his way to lifting the Australian Open, his last trophy performance on the tour.Federer, who holds an 8-2 career winning record over Safin including a straight sets fourth round win here in 2007, has nothing but respect for his opponent.That admiration can only have been enhanced by seeing Safin destroy world number three Novak Djokovic in the second round.For the Swiss, Safin’s current lowly ranking is irrelevant.RAFA IN THE MIX Second seed Rafael Nadal, who has lost to Federer in the last two finals is bidding to be the first Spanish men’s champion here since Manuel Santana in 1966 and only the third man to win Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year.He also had a smooth ride to the last four.He has dropped just one set – against the promising Ernests Gulbis in the second round – and was ruthless in his straight sets demolition of Andy Murray in the quarter-finals.Nadal took Federer to five sets in an epic 2007 final and had chances in the decider to break through.”Last year was close.Only one more point and probably I would have had the trophy in my home,” he said.”I am playing well this year, but I don’t know if it’s enough.”Murray believes Nadal can be considered the favourite after witnessing the Spaniard’s power at close range.”If he plays that well and returns like that, I think he’s very close to being the favourite to win the tournament,” said the Scot.”He was close last year, and I think he’s playing better than he was last year.”Nampa-AFP