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Only now can Roger Federer admit to it. Only now, after coming through his longest match of the season. Only now, after the first five-setter he has so much as played, never mind won, in more than a year.
Only now, after recovering from the knee operation he had in February. Only now, after missing his first Grand Slam in 17 years by withdrawing from Roland Garros to protect his “pretty fragile” back for Wimbledon. Only now, after coming back from two sets down to defeat Marin Cilic to become the oldest Wimbledon semi-finalist in 42 years. Only now could he own up.
“I was very worried coming here,” he confessed.
“This is huge for me. Epic. Because of the season I’ve had, it’s wonderful. To win a match like this, test the body, to be out there again, fighting, being in a physical battle and winning it – it’s an unbelievable feeling.
“Sometimes when you’re two sets to love down, the mountain to climb is so huge it’s monstrous. I remember just being in trouble the whole time. It was continuous for an hour or so. It just kept being rough.
"But I had great focus, and I did believe. It's not a fake belief, it's a real belief that you need to have in those moments. I fought, I tried, I believed. It was great on so many levels.
“I was very happy that I actually felt as strong mentally and physically when I was down two sets to love. Next thing you know, I was serving for the match in the fifth. At the end I got it done. A great, great match. I’m so happy.”
Naturally, when Federer is winning at this stage of the Fortnight, that must mean a new record of some kind. So for those who like their stats – deep breath – he has now equalled Jimmy Connors’ record of 11 Wimbledon semi-finals; he has drawn level with Connors’ benchmark of 84 Wimbledon victories; he is the oldest Grand Slam semi-finalist since Andre Agassi at the US Open 11 years ago; at 34, he is the oldest Wimbledon semi-finalist since Ken Rosewall in 1974; and, as a result of this quarter-final win, he has the most Grand Slam singles wins by any player in history, having notched up No.307. But you get used to records when you already have so many, and Federer looked a tad blank at hearing the last on that list.
“That record… I’m not even sure what we’re talking about,” he said, to laughter, adding politely: “But I’m sure it’s great.”
Bear in mind that this is the first year since the turn of the century that Federer has arrived at Wimbledon without winning a title. And yet here he is, surviving a touch and go quarter-final without delivering a single double fault. That’s the kind of knowledge which makes useful armour, even for a player who is 10 for 10 in Wimbledon semi-finals to date. Yep, he has never lost in the last four here.
So how will he prepare for that match against Milos Raonic? The Swiss leads their head-to-head 9-2, but Raonic crushed him in straight sets in Brisbane at the start of the year, in their most recent meeting, and now has the influence of John McEnroe in his coaching staff. How can Federer prepare for that, after such a physically and emotionally sapping quarter-final? Will he have an ice bath? Sleep in an igloo? Go gluten-free overnight?
“I don’t do any of that stuff,” said Federer. “I’ll sleep well, eat healthy, take a stretch, a massage. That’s it. Very normal.” Then he smiled the smile of the oldest man in a Wimbledon semi-final for 42 years.
“Old school,” he said happily.
