Federer, Djokovic set for first grass match_美文

Federer, Djokovic set for first grass match

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Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer have met 26 times, but Friday's potentially epic Wimbledon semifinal will be a first clash on grass in their roller-coaster, six-year rivalry.

Defending champion Djokovic has won the pair's past three meetings, in straight sets on clay this year in Rome and in the semifinals of the French Open. Those wins followed a morale-sapping semifinal loss for Federer at the US Open where the Serb, for the second successive year, saved match points before driving another dagger into the great Swiss.

Both men go into Friday's clash having racked up impressive numbers.

Djokovic, the US Open, Australian Open and Wimbledon champion, is in a ninth successive Grand Slam semi-final and has played in the past four finals at the majors.

Federer is in a record 32nd semi-final of a Grand Slam.

On paper, the grass of Centre Court should favor Federer, the six-time champion desperate to equal the record seven set by Pete Sampras.

But the 16-time Grand Slam title winner is playing down the significance of the surface.

"Things are not that drastic of a change anymore from clay, hard court, indoor, to grass. But it is interesting that this is our first grass-court match," he said.

"I'm just happy that I'm around further than I've been the last couple of years. So it's been a good tournament for me. It gives me confidence going into a big match against Novak."