Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer set up 1 vs. 2 Wimbledon final

(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth). Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates winning a point against Richard Gasquet of France during the men’s singles semifinal match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Friday July 10, 2015.

“I kept the pressure up”, said Federer, who piled up 56 winners and had only 11 unforced errors, compared to 35 and 17 for Murray.

“It’s definitely one of the best matches I’ve played in my career”, Federer said.

Murray beat Federer in the 2012 Olympic final and then won Wimbledon the following year, but the British star fell short in the crucial moments as he lost in the last four for the second successive grand slam.

LONDON (AP) – When Roger Federer faces Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final for the second consecutive year on Sunday, they’ll be resuming a rivalry that has been about as even as possible.

“I played well in the biggest occasion today”.

“We’ve both been there before”.

Yes, his disappointment was clear after losing to Wawrinka in Paris – the French Open is the only Grand Slam event Djokovic hasn’t won – but after blistering Richard Gasquet 7-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the Wimbledon semifinals, Djokovic is now 47-3 on the season.

It promises to be less straightforward against Djokovic, who has beaten Federer twice already this year and can become the first man to successfully defend a Wimbledon title since his opponent achieved the feat in 2007.

About the only issue Novak had was some treatment he received on his left shoulder late in the match.

“It’ll be fine for the next match”, he said.

“It’s definitely one of the best matches I’ve played in my career”, Federer said. “I try to take the best out of myself and I have a responsibility to play well and just glad to reach another final”.

While Federer leads that rivalry 20-19, the Serbian world number one will be boosted by the knowledge that he has won four of their six meetings over the past year.

Djokovic joked “we shouldn’t spend too many words” on Swiss master Federer, but conceded he learned the blueprint for grand slam victories from the 17-time major victor.

A successful challenge by the seven-time Wimbledon champ flipped the momentum, then eventually cracked a forehand victor to convert his sixth set point.

“I”, Federer would say later, “was screaming inside”.

In the past the 28-year-old might have beaten himself up about the defeat but he knows he gave it his all against one of the greatest tennis players of all time.

Murray had the choice of serving first in the match, but he opted to receive – perhaps hoping to apply some early pressure on the seven-time Wimbledon champion standing on the other side of the net.

“The first set was really close”, added Djokovic. But I didn’t play that badly. “Things could have gone his way, also, the first set, but I think that was the turning point for me”. Played a great game to break.

And he will do it with the inspiration of having been cheered all the way back to the locker room by royalty – real, sporting and show business – after his win over Andy Murray on Friday night.