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Roger Federer crashes as Novak Djokovic reaches 10th Wimbledon semi-final
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Roger Federer looks dejected as he leaves Centre Court after losing to Hubert Hurkacz of Poland in the quarter-finals of the Wimbledon at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London, England, July 7, 2021. /CFP

Roger Federer looks dejected as he leaves Centre Court after losing to Hubert Hurkacz of Poland in the quarter-finals of the Wimbledon at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London, England, July 7, 2021. /CFP

Swiss legend Roger Federer faced serious questions over his future on Wednesday after crashing out of Wimbledon in the quarter-finals, just five weeks shy of his 40th birthday.

Eight-time Wimbledon champion and 20-time Grand Slam title winner Federer lost 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 6-0 to Poland's Hubert Hurkacz, a player 15 years his junior.

There were no such problems for world number one and five-time champion Novak Djokovic who reached his 10th Wimbledon semi-final and 41st at the Grand Slams.

Djokovic, looking to equal Federer and Rafael Nadal on 20 majors, defeated Hungary's Marton Fucsovics 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.

He will face Canada's 10th seed Denis Shapovalov, who beat Russia's Karen Khachanov 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-4, for a place in Sunday's final.

Hurkacz will tackle Italy's Matteo Berrettini in the other semi-final.

Defeat was only Federer's 14th at Wimbledon in 119 matches and his first straight-sets loss since an opening round exit against Mario Ancic in 2002.

It was also the first time he had lost a set 6-0 at Wimbledon. "I really don't know. I've got to regroup," said Federer when asked if his Wimbledon career was over. "With everything that comes after Wimbledon, we were always going to sit down and talk about it. I got to take a few days."

Novak Djokovic celebrates his victory over Marton Fucsovics in the quarter-finals of the Wimbledon at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London, England, July 7, 2021. /CFP

Novak Djokovic celebrates his victory over Marton Fucsovics in the quarter-finals of the Wimbledon at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London, England, July 7, 2021. /CFP

Meanwhile, victory for Djokovic was his 100th on a grass court. He became only the third man to capture all four majors more than once with his second French Open victory last month.

Now he is halfway to becoming the first man in the Open Era and only the third in history to complete a calendar Grand Slam of all four majors.

"Sometimes things do look surreal for me but I try to live in the moment and take every opportunity I have on the court," said Djokovic.

Djokovic raced into a 5-0 lead in the first set before 29-year-old Fucsovics got on the board.

The world number 48, bidding to become the first Hungarian man since 1948 to make the semi-finals at Wimbledon, saved five set points.

However, the rearguard action was too late to prevent the champion edging ahead.

The top seed broke for the only time in the second set in the ninth game which was enough for a two sets lead.

Source(s): AFP

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