Roger Federer stages amazing comeback to beat Marin Cilic

He fought back from two sets down and saved three match points to secure himself a place in the Wimbledon semi-finals - the eleventh time he has reached that stage in the competition.

It was Federer's 307th win in a grand slam - breaking Martina Navratilova's long-standing record.

Cilic stood one point away from victory three times in a pulsating fourth set that had everyone on the edge of their seats.

Three huge serves kept Federer alive - just - and he then produced the kind of form, and outrageous shots, that has made him the most successful man in tennis by stealing the tiebreak 11-9.

An ace on his first match point finished off the job and carried him into a 40th major semi-final, where he will face Milos Raonic for a place in Sunday's final.

"I knew I was in so much trouble in the third and again in the fourth," Federer said after walking off Centre Court to a standing ovation.

"It wasn't going well for me. So for me it was about staying in the match and somehow hope for his level to drop ... and maybe get a bit lucky. That's exactly what happened at 3-3, 0-40 (in the third set)," added Federer about the game where he saved three break points.

"Obviously the breaker was crazy. It was an incredible match. Marin is one of the nicest guys on the tour so I feel sorry for him but for me the dream continues."

Having missed last month's French Open with a back injury, the five set thriller also delivered a knockout punch to those thinking the Swiss third seed did not have the stamina to last the distance.

"It's really encouraging for me to see that I am improving. As the match goes on, I was able to sustain a really high level of play," added the 34-year-old, who came back from two-sets down for the 10th time in his career.

"My legs were there, my back was there, serving was key. Plus mentally this is going to give me a hell of a boost. I am ecstatic that I was able to come through somehow."