Raonic upends Federer to reach first slam final

Milos Raonic has shattered Roger Federer’s dreams of an eighth Wimbledon crown with a drama-charged five-set semifinal comeback win over the Swiss champion.

Raonic fired down 23 aces – including the fastest serve of the championships – to blot Federer’s perfect 10-from-10 semifinal record at the All England Club with a thrilling 6-3 6-7(3) 4-6 7-5 6-3 triumph on Friday.

In denying Federer a 28th Grand Slam final appearance, 25-year-old Raonic advanced to his first – just a month after adding three-time Wimbledon champion John McEnroe to his coaching team.

Raonic’s breakthrough is sweet redemption for a straight-sets loss to Federer at the same stage in 2014 and also a tough five-set semifinal defeat to Andy Murray at this year’s Australian Open.

“It an in incredible comeback for me,” Raonic said.

“I was struggling through the third and fourth set. He was playing some some really good tennis.

“But just on a little opening I managed to turn it around to finish it off.”

In an early statement, Raonic landed a 232kph bullet but, as coach McEnroe said from his BBC commentary box, “this wasn’t just about his serve”.

“He showed a lot of heart,” McEnroe said.

“He found another gear that I don’t even know he knew he had.”

Raonic admitted McEnroe had been a priceless addition to his entourage.

“He told me to go out there and leave it it all out there,” he said.

“Mentally I had one of my best matches in my history, of my career, and I think that’s what made the difference.”

Raonic’s only defeat in 11 matches since teaming with McEnroe came against Murray in last month’s Queen’s Club final.

The sixth seed could well face Murray in Sunday’s title match, with the Scot up against Czech 10th seed Tomas Berdych in Friday’s second semifinal.

“I am by no means done with what I want to do here,” Raonic said.

Exactly one month shy of his 35th birthday, Federer was bidding to become the oldest man to reach the Wimbledon final since Ken Rosewall in 1974.

He twice stood within five points of the final deep in the fourth set, only for Raonic to stave off a pair of break points and then break Federer in stunning fashion the very next game to force the semi into a deciding fifth.

From 40-love up at 5-6, Federer twice double-faulted before Raonic scorched a backhand pass down the line to snatch the set.

In a worrying sign, Federer immediately sought treatment for a leg issue – but worse was to follow.

The Swiss fell awkwardly on hallowed Centre Court while desperately scrambling for a ball in the fourth game of the fifth set.

He limped to his chair for more treatment, this time to his knee, five months after undergoing career-saving surgery.

He returned to the court shortly after, but was unable to avoid dropping serve in what proved the beginning of the end.

Raonic held his nerve – and serve three more times – to close out the match after three hours and 25 minutes.