Saturday 9 July 2016 07:36, UK
Roger Federer failed again in his pursuit of an eighth Wimbledon title after Milos Raonic completed a five-set comeback win in the semi-finals.
The Swiss star appeared to be heading for a third straight final when he moved one set from victory, but Raonic dragged the 34-year-old into a decider and sealed an enthralling 6-3 6-7 4-6 7-5 6-3 win.
He becomes the first ever Canadian to reach the last day of a major tournament and will face either Andy Murray or Tomas Berdych on Sunday.
It has been four years since Federer's last Grand Slam title, coming on Centre Court in 2012, and doubts remain about whether he can add an 18th crown after he fell short in the absence of the eliminated Novak Djokovic.
The 34-year-old Federer seemed to be showing a few lingering signs of fatigue from his marathon five-set win over Marin Cilic in the quarter-finals and a weary double fault handed over a first break to Raonic.
After opening a two-game cushion at 3-1, Raonic repelled a testing assault from Federer with the aid of his booming serve, and a fizzing forehand winner would earn a one-set lead.
There were few signs of frailty in the second set until Raonic unravelled at 5-4 down, gifting three break points with a double fault, but the 25-year-old showed inner steel while scrapping back to hold.
Another rash double fault from Raonic would not go unpunished in the tie-break as the predatory Federer fashioned a 6-3 lead and soon levelled the match.
Into the third set, Federer would coax a first break out of the Canadian, who surrendered his serve with a wild return, and the former champion was far more serene while sealing the set.
But Raonic refused to let Federer stroll into another showpiece and brought up set point at 6-5, taking the third break point with a backhand winner to force a fifth set that would test his opponent's ageing limbs.
Treatment from the trainer failed to revive Federer and he fell to the turf while desperately trying to withstand Raonic, who broke again with a classy cross-court winner before ending a marathon victory.
