Roger Federer knows what to expect from big-serving Milos Raonic

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/jul/03/roger-federer-ninth-wimbledon-semi-final-milos-raonic

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Before Roger Federer goes out to play Milos Raonic in the semi-finals at Wimbledon, he will discuss tactics, as usual, with his coach, Stefan Edberg. And it is a pretty good bet that Edberg will remind Federer of what happened to him at the same stage in 1991, when the Swede was beaten by Michael Stich in four sets, without ever losing his serve.

It is a warning the 32-year-old Federer will probably not need, for he knows the threat that the big-serving Raonic can present, having played him four times. Though the Swiss has won all four, the last three all went to a decider and in the two years since they last met Raonic has broken into the top 10. This year he seems to have added belief to a game already perfectlysuited to grass and his serve is a huge threat.

After Raonic ended the run of the Australian teenager Nick Kyrgios in the quarter-finals, the big-serving 1996 champion, Richard Krajicek, said in commentary that the Canadian has the game to win the title. “His serve is so easy,” he said on BBC 5 Live. “When I played I had to really work to hit 130mph; he looks like he’s playing within himself.”

Federer must believe this could be his best chance to become the first man to win eight Wimbledon titles and extend his grand slam record tally to 18. Having played on consecutive days to get to the last four, he is into the semi-finals for the ninth time and he has not lost one yet. “It’s a comfortable place to be,” he said. “I know there’s pressure but the confidence is there. You know there is a chance now to go a step further because you trust your game. That’s where I am right now. I’m really excited.

“Clearly on the grass with a serve like that it’s never going to be an easy match,” he said of the Raonic threat. “That’s where you sort of go back to your own game and say: ‘I’ll take care of my own serves and see what I can do on the return.’ That’s my mindset right now.”

Raonic is 23 and a serious player totally absorbed by his job; he is also the first Canadian male to reach the semis since 1908 and will also be hoping to match the achievement of his compatriot Eugenie Bouchard, who will play in the women’s final. The addition of the former world No3 Ivan Ljubicic to his coaching team has helped instil confidence and having never got past the second round before, he is now only one match away from the final.

“I think I’m a different player,” the No8 seed said. “I’ve got in close with Roger in the past and I have a lot of belief that I can do this. There’s no point talking about it. I’ve got to step up and do it.”