London: Milos Raonic became the first Canadian man to reach a Grand Slam final at Wimbledon on Friday when he stunned punch drunk seven-time champion Roger Federer in a titanic five-set struggle.
Sixth seed Raonic triumphed 6-3, 6-7 (3/7), 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 and goes on to face second seed Andy Murray, the 2013 champion, or 10th-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych.
“I pushed him on a few service games, couldn’t get it done. It hurts. I was so, so close,” said Federer.
“He hit the lines with the serve and forehand. He did a great job. It’s something I want to forget about,” Federer added.
It was 25-year-old Raonic’s first win on grass against a top 10 opponent and shattered Federer’s hopes of going on to claim a record eighth All England Club crown and 18th major.
“There was a little opening and I took it,” said Raonic who looked down and out in the fourth set.
“It’s a big impact for Canada. Hopefully, it will be even bigger if I win on Sunday. I was struggling throughout the third and fourth sets, he was playing real good tennis.”
After weathering an early storm, Federer had been in complete control of the semifinal, his 10th at the tournament, until the tie turned suddenly and dramatically in the fourth set.
The 34-year-old, bidding to become the oldest finalist in 42 years, squandered three break points in the set and slipped from 40-0 up on serve in the 12th game.
Federer, whose last Grand Slam crown came at Wimbledon in 2012, had already required five sets to get past Marin Cilic in the quarterfinals, saving three match points in the process. And the effort took its toll on the star in the decider where he needed treatment on his right thigh and jarred his left knee and foot in a worrying fall.
