Wimbledon men's semifinal previews: Federer-Berdych and Querrey-Cilic

Marin Cilic [7] vs. Sam Querrey [24]

You again? Cilic and Querrey have met at Wimbledon twice before, and both times they’ve gone the distance—and then some. In 2009, Cilic won 6-4 in the fifth set; in 2012, Cilic won another, much longer fifth set, 17-15. So it’s conceivable that this 1:00 P.M. semifinal could go all afternoon. But this time, perhaps more than the other two times, Cilic is the clear favorite. Querrey is coming off one of the biggest wins of his career, over Andy Murray, and will be feeling the high from that match. But after three straight quarterfinal appearances at Wimbledon, Cilic has been leading up to a dark-horse run to this final for a while now.

Winner: Cilic

Roger Federer [3] vs. Tomas Berdych [11]

Federer has looked like his old unstoppable self at this tournament, especially in his last match, a straight-set win over the man who beat him here last year, Milos Raonic. Berdych would seem, at first glance, to be an unlikely candidate to stop him when he’s in this form. Federer is 18-6 against the Czech, and has won their last seven meetings. But stranger things have happened—on two occasions, to be specific. In 2010, Berdych beat Federer in the quarterfinals here, and in 2012 he beat him in the quarterfinals at the U.S. Open. Berdych also had a match point on Federer in Miami this year before losing, and he looked good in beating Dominic Thiem in the fourth round. But Federer is better rested than he was in Miami, and he’s a better player.

Winner: Federer

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