Roger Federer faces a tough semi-final against the unpredictable Marat Safin at Wimbledon on Friday.

Victory could set up a dream final against Rafael Nadal, who meets Rainer Schuettler in the second semi.

Former world number one Safin has seen his form slump since winning the 2005 Australian Open and is currently down at 75th in the rankings and unseeded.

Reigning champion Federer has an 8-2 record against him but knows he is up against a mercurial opponent.

Marathon wins for Ancic and Safin ...
Davenport is out of French Open ... Federer, 26, was beaten by Safin in five sets in the semi-finals en route to the 2005 Australian Open title.

"He's beaten me on big occasions in the past, so I will not underestimate him, especially not in the semi-finals of a Grand Slam," said the Swiss star who has yet to drop a set, taking his winning streak at Wimbledon to 39 matches and 64 overall on grass.

"He's finally showing again what he can do. It's just quite surprising he does it here at Wimbledon in some ways, because he used to dislike playing on grass.

"Last year I wasn't happy to see Safin in my draw. I'm never happy (when he is) and he probably knows that.

"I have to be very careful on Friday - once Safin's on a roll, he's quite unstoppable."

But Safin, whose previous best run at Wimbledon was reaching the quarter-finals in 2001, claims he has little hope of ending Federer's domination on grass.

"I'm playing semi-finals, but that doesn't mean that I have a chance, because the guy has won how many times already here?" he said of the five-time champion.

"To beat Federer you need to be Nadal and run around like a rabbit and hit winners from all over the place. It's just a little bit too difficult (for me)."

Schuettler, 32, came through a gruelling five-set quarter-final against France's Arnaud Clement.

Their match, which started on Wednesday evening, was interrupted by rain delays on Thursday and lasted a total of five hours and 12 minutes.

Schuettler, who reached the 2003 Australian Open final, was once ranked fifth in the world but came into Wimbledon just inside the top 100. He had never previously gone beyond the fourth round.

"It's obviously a tough one," he said looking ahead to his meeting with Nadal, who has a 3-1 record in their previous meetings.

"He's playing unbelievably well, and he's pretty fit. But I also work hard, I'm physically fit. I will get a massage and try to go to bed early so that I have enough sleep, and I will be fine."

Nadal, 22, last year's beaten finalist, had a day off following his 6-3 6-2 6-4 demolition of Britain's Andy Murray in just one hour and 55 minutes on Wednesday.

"The second half of the first and the second set especially was the best I have played here," said Nadal, who is trying to become the first man since Bjorn Borg in 1980 to win the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year.

(BBC)

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