Federer eyes record-tying win

He can win his fifth straight Wimbldeon title by beating Rafael Nadal.

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Roger Federer sneaked a peek at Bjorn Borg in the Centre Court stands, then carried on with the business at hand.

One eye on the past, one on the present.

Troubled little in a straight-set semifinal win Saturday, his 33rd consecutive victory at Wimbledon and record 53rd in a row on grass, Federer strolled into what amounts to a two-sided challenge in the final.

Today Federer will try to beat his present-day nemesis Rafael Nadal, in order to equal Borg’s mark of five straight Wimbledon championships.

“It is tricky when you see him sitting there, because he is a living legend,” Federer said, sounding something like a teen who spotted his favorite rock star. “I have so much respect for him that it is great that he’s here. I hope I can do the job [today].”

Just like last year at the All England Club, and the past two years at the French Open, the men’s championship will be decided by No. 1 vs. No. 2, Federer vs. Nadal. Each of those earlier Grand Slam finals went four sets, with Federer winning on the grass, and Nadal winning on the clay.

“Sure, he’s the favorite. No one has any doubt about this,” Nadal said, ignoring his 8-4 career record against Federer. “But I’m going to try my best, no?”

Cruising

Federer gave himself a chance by beating No. 12 Richard Gasquet of France 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 in a semifinal that was competitive for a set. Nadal advanced when No. 4 Novak Djokovic of Serbia quit because of an infected blister on his left little toe while trailing 3-6, 6-1, 4-1.

Here’s how relaxed Federer was against Gasquet, a 21-year-old playing in his first Grand Slam semifinal. In addition to taking time to enjoy Borg’s presence, Federer also glanced at the scoreboard during changeovers, keeping track of what was happening in Nadal-Djokovic.

Federer had noticed Djokovic was trying to deal with his foot problem in the locker room and later said he was surprised Nadal dropped the opening set. Federer, too, was in danger of losing his opening set against Gasquet, who knocked off No. 3 Andy Roddick in the quarterfinals after falling behind 2-0 in sets.

There were two key sequences in Federer-Gasquet, and the first came in the 11th game. With Federer serving at 5-5, Gasquet smacked a cross-court forehand winner to earn two break points at 15-40 — one point from serving for the set.

But Federer responded with all the skill of a 10-time major champion and the savvy of, at 25, a relative veteran. First came one of his 20 aces, on a corner at 127 mph, to erase one break point. Then came a forehand winner down the line to erase the other. Federer took the next two points, too, to hold for 6-5.

Beginning with that four-point run, Federer won 44 of the last 54 points on his serve.

Putting it away

The next game was key, also, because Gasquet was one point from forcing a tiebreaker at 40-15. But Federer put together another four-point streak, with help from a suddenly tight Gasquet, who slapped two volleys into the net.

And that, essentially, was that.

Djokovic tried to grin and bear it against Nadal with a bad toe plus a bothersome lower back, not to mention sheer exhaustion from playing on a sixth consecutive day.

Nadal has won three French Opens in a row, something no one had done since Borg. Now, like his rival Federer, Nadal is chasing Borg again, trying to become the first man to win at Roland Garros and the All England Club in the same year since the Swede did it every year from 1978-80.

But Federer stands in Nadal’s way, just as Nadal stands in Federer’s.