Youzhny slams Federer critics, says beating Federer is still a dream

Russian Mikhail Youzhny insisted on Wednesday that Roger Federer is nowhere near a career decline after bowing out of the Wimbledon quarterfinals to the Swiss third seed. Federer saw off Youzhny, seeded 26, in a one-way match lasting barely 90 minutes. He hit 25 winners on his way to a 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 victory to set up a semifinal with top seed Novak Djokovic or Germany's Florian Mayer, the 31st seed.

Youzhny had no answer for Federer's majestic game, but leaves the tournament having eclipsed his previous best of the fourth round.

The Russian veteran said it was no surprise that Federer, 30, was approaching the summit of the world rankings once more. "I heard that after the tournament (Federer) can again become the first, in the best of circumstances," Youzhny said. "Judge for yourself: if a person at the dusk of his career returns from third place to the first, if you call it dusk - we have a different understanding of tennis."

Youzhny, who has never won against Federer, suffering 14 defeats since 2000, still hopes to beat the Swiss player some day.

"This is still my dream. I can't say right now if it is possible, but I want to play as many matches as possible against him," said the Russian.

Meanwhile according to a report in Indian Express, Novak Djokovic closed out his latest Wimbledon win with an ace, then threw a fist and let loose a primal scream. Bring on Roger Federer. They’ll meet at Wimbledon for the first time on Friday. In other quarter-final, France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga reached his second successive semi-final with a 7-6 4-6 7-6 6-2 win over German Philipp Kohlschreiber on Wednesday.

Fifth seed Tsonga danced around Court One in delight after breaking Kohlschreiber for the second time in the fourth set. He sealed victory on his first match point after rushing to the net and firing a crosscourt winner, clinching victory after two hours 48 minutes.Tsonga will play Briton Andy Murray, who reached his fourth straight Wimbledon semi-final by rallying from a set down to hold off David Ferrer 6-7 (5) 7-6 (6) 6-4 7-6 (4).

According to a report in The Times Of India, Roger Federer’s 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 quarterfinal win over Russian Mikhail Youzhny, punctuated with an angled backhand volley, was a oneway train, a match sans conflict or contest. The 30-year-old former World No.1 swept everything before him wrapping up his 64th win on Church Road in a mere 92-minutes.

The six-time title holder at the All England Club will take on World No.1 and defending champion Novak Djokovic in a dream semifinal on Friday. On the adjacent Court No.1 on Wednesday, the Serb stopped 28-yearold German Florian Mayer 6-4, 6-1, 6-4 in a last eight clash in which he was barely tested, coming through in 1 hour and 45 minutes.

After his win, Djokovic said, “I am not trying to defend my title here. I am trying to fight for it as every other player left in the tournament. My mindset is very positive. Last year, when I won here, it was a huge relief as it was my first win on this surface. I hadn’t won before on grass. Now I feel great on this surface. This year, I’ve played consistently right through the tournament, I hope to continue that way,” says the TOI report.