Superb Roger Federer reaches last four with masterful win over Gilles Simon

Updated 09/07/2015 at 06:13 GMT

Seven-times champion Roger Federer demolished Gilles Simon 6-3 7-5 6-2 to reach the semi-finals of Wimbledon.

Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates after winning his match against Gilles Simon of France at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, July 8, 2015

Image credit: Reuters

The Swiss second seed will face 2013 champion Andy Murray of Great Britain in a repeat of the 2012 final, a match that witnessed the last of his seven titles at the All England club and 17th Grand Slam success of his gilded career.

Murray avenged that loss by beating Federer a few weeks later on Centre Court in the Olympic final to win gold for GB in London.

Federer told the BBC that he has fond memories of his matches with the Scotsman. He has only dropped one set in this year's Wimbledon, and was hardly troubled by Simon in completing safe passage to another semi-final at the Grand Slam on grass.

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Federer, at 33 moving as elegantly as he has throughout his career, hopes they can produce another exciting spectacle after Murray beat Vasek Pospisil 6-4 7-5 6-4 in his quarter-final.

"It was a great summer for both of us," said Federer. "I'm happy for both of us. He (Andy) has come back from back surgery. I think people forget that. He is back in contention to win any tournament.

"It should be a great match, it is going to be a tough one for me, but I'm obviously looking forward to it."

Roger Federer -Wimbledon 2015

Image credit: AFP

Federer's minor blip, if you can call it that, was losing his serve for the first time in 116 games, a run that stretched back to the Halle Open first round last month.

"I'm happy it lasted as long as it did," said Federer.

"It's been a great streak. At the same time, I'm relieved that (he got the) break. (Now) I can just focus on the normal things. Not whether I'm going to hold serve or not. Because holding serve is not going to really do much."

There was two rain delays of around 40 minutes, but Federer was never going to be denied in moving freely into a 37th Grand Slam semi-final, and a 10th at Wimbledon.

Results from the Wimbledon men's singles Quarter-Final matches on Wednesday

3-Andy Murray (Britain) beat Vasek Pospisil (Canada) 6-4 7-5 6-4

2-Roger Federer (Switzerland) beat 12-Gilles Simon (France) 6-3 7-5 6-2

21-Richard Gasquet (France) beat 4-Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland) 6-4 4-6 3-6 6-4 11-9

1-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) beat 9-Marin Cilic (Croatia) 6-4 6-4 6-4

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