Roger Federer has defeated Andy Murray in straight sets to keep alive his hopes of claiming an eighth Wimbledon crown.
The second seed prevailed 7-5 7-5 6-4 on Centre Court to set up a meeting with reigning champion Novak Djokovic.
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Both players held throughout a tight first set, but Federer was able to break the home favourite in the final game to take a crucial early foothold.
Murray looked good value to take a 30-0 lead in that 12th game, but a fine backhand winner from the 10-time finalist was enough to bring him on level terms, before getting the job done with his second set point.
Having both held once more in the early stages of the second set, a mammoth 10th game was edged once more by Federer to put him on his way to victory.
Murray somehow held on, saving five set points in front of expectant spectators, and after battling his way back into things he took the game with an ace.
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Federer again showed his true quality, though, holding for a love game before breaking in the final game of the second set to put Murray on the brink of defeat.
After once again holding in the third, Federer put the pressure on the British hopeful to serve to keep himself in the competition, which he failed to do so.
A backhand winner to bring up a 30-0 advantage looked to be too much for Murray to overcome and, despite temporarily levelling things up, Federer did prevail yet again at SW19 in some style.
Daniel Lewis
