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Roger Federer's relentless pursuit of a record eighth Wimbledon men's title continued, as he fought off Tomas Berdych to become the first male player to reach 11 finals at the All England Club.
Federer will meet Marin Cilic in the final but he was given his toughest test yet by the 11th-seeded Berdych before winning 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 after raising his game at the crucial moments.
The Swiss player, at 35, become the oldest men's singles finalist at Wimbledon since Ken Rosewall in 1974.
Rosewall, then aged 39, went on to lose to Jimmy Connors but Federer will be a huge favourite to reclaim the title he last won in 2012 when he faces the big-serving Cilic on Sunday.
Federer has now reached 29 major singles finals and for the third time in his career has reach the Wimbledon final without dropping a set, having also achieved the feat in 2006 and 2008.
"I feel very privileged to be in another final," Federer said.
"I've got the pleasure to play on Centre Court another time. I can't believe it's almost true again. I'm happy to have a day off to reflect on what I've done at the tournament."
Twelve months ago Federer lost to Milos Raonic in the Wimbledon semi-finals, with his legs looking heavy and the years finally appearing to catch up with him, but this year he has rolled back the clock in glorious fashion.
He now is one match away from holding two of the game's major four prizes for the first time since 2010, having begun the year by claiming the Australian Open title.
Federer, contesting a record 12th Wimbledon semi-final, broke serve in the fifth game when he ran Berdych ragged before whipping a ball out of the air into the corner.
Out of nowhere Berdych broke back for 4-4 when Federer - to gasps from the crowd - double-faulted at break point down.
Berdych's best chance of shaking Federer out of his silky rhythm was to grab the opening set but a terrible forehand at 3-4 in the subsequent tiebreak allowed Federer breathing space which he used to clinch the opener.
Tennis has seen few better front-runners than Federer and while Berdych manfully stayed with his opponent in the second set he never was able to apply any real pressure.
His only chance came when he had Federer 15-40 down at 2-3 but, as great champions do, he responded with a couple of slide-rule aces to avert the danger.
Three consecutive forehand winners gave a ruthless Federer control of the second set tiebreak, as he moved two sets clear.
Berdych refused to throw in the towel and had break points at 3-3 in the third set, only for Federer to fling down three aces to finally break his rival's spirit.
The end came quickly as Federer broke in the next game and he sealed victory - his 90th at the All England Club - when Berdych netted a forehand, prompting a standing ovation from the crowd.
Earlier, Cilic reached his first Wimbledon final with a hard-earned 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), 7-5 win over resilient American Sam Querrey.
Fans who may have been disappointed that neither Rafael Nadal or Andy Murray featured in the last four were given plenty of compensation by a high-quality match lasting just under three hours.
Querrey, looking to be the first American to reach the final at the All England Club since Andy Roddick in 2009, had played three five-set games to reach the semi-final stage, including his quarter-final win over Murray, and he could well have taken the Croat into a decisive set.
But serving to save the match, he double-faulted and made two unforced errors before Cilic sealed victory with a forehand winner on match point.
The 28-year-old raised his arms to the sky in triumph as he celebrated becoming the first Croatian to reach the men's singles final at Wimbledon since Goran Ivanisevic in 2001.
Reuters
Topics: tennis, sport, england, united-kingdom
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