WRAPUP 1-Tennis-Wimbledon-Roddick roars after Federer magic show

Fri Jul 3, 2009 9:50pm BST
 
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* Federer reached seventh successive Wimbledon final

* Swiss to face either Andy Murray and Andy Roddick

By Martyn Herman

LONDON, July 3 (Reuters) - Roger Federer sprinkled his magic all over Centre Court on Friday before Andy Roddick bludgeoned Andy Murray into the hallowed turf to leave Britain still seeking its first post-war men's singles finalist at Wimbledon.

Record-hunting Swiss Federer was at his dazzling best, beating resurgent German Tommy Haas 7-6 7-5 6-3 to reach his seventh men's singles final here, a feat not achieved since the abolition of the Challenge Round in 1922.

Federer's virtuoso performance watched by the lucky 15,000 with Centre Court tickets was supposed to the curtain-raiser for the thousands massing in front of the huge screen on the grassy expanse known as Henman Hill for the Murray blockbuster later.

However, the Scot fluffed his lines and was outplayed in his first Wimbledon semi-final by American former world number one Roddick, losing 6-4 4-6 7-6 7-6 as Murray-mania fizzled out and disappointed fans headed to the bars to drown their sorrows.

Roddick, beaten by Federer in the 2004 and 2005 finals here, has not contested the championship match at a grand slam since the 2006 U.S. Open, but appears to have re-discovered the spark.  Continued...

 

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