Safin sets up Federer showdown at Wimbledon

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2008

LONDON (AFP) — Marat Safin set up a Wimbledon showdown with Roger Federer as the volatile Russian reached his first Grand Slam semi-final for three years with a 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7/1), 6-3 victory over Feliciano Lopez on Wednesday.

Safin looked in danger of imploding when he was given a warning for ball abuse and dropped the first set, but he kept his cool to brush aside the Spanish 31st seed.

Three years after beating Federer in Melbourne en route to winning the Australian Open, Safin, ranked now at 75, is back within touching distance of a major final.

Despite his resurgence, Safin will be a heavy underdog against Federer, who beat him at Wimbledon last year and has yet to drop a set in this year's tournament as he goes for a sixth successive title.

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