Wimbledon Smashtalk: Can Federer be beaten?

With world No.1 and defending champion Andy Murray and three-time champion Novak Djokovic exiting on a surprising day nine, Roger Federer is the sole former Wimbledon champion left in the gentlemen’s singles draws.

Is the Swiss champion about to win an all-time record eighth title? The #Smashtalk team of Paul Moore, Vivienne Christie and Leigh Rogers share their thoughts…

Can anyone beat Roger Federer?

Paul Moore: Absolutely. Anyone who thinks Roger is going to coast to his eighth Wimbledon title is dreaming (although he is the firm favourite). I think Cilic is the biggest threat left in the draw for Federer. The Croat should have beaten him last year, and won’t have anything to lose against the presumptive champion.

Vivienne Christie: Of course they can. But in this case, I don’t think they will. Tomas Berdych is an obvious danger given his win over Federer in the 2010 quarterfinals but while the Czech has played brilliantly this Wimbledon, it’s not quite with Federer’s apparent ease. The bigger threat would come in the final against Marin Cilic or Sam Querrey – but I still tip that neither of those huge servers can stop a seven-time champion who is competing so freely.

Leigh Rogers: Only himself at this stage. I don’t believe any of the players left have the self-belief to beat the Swiss champion this deep into the tournament. As long as Federer can handle his own nerves, a record-breaking eighth Wimbledon title is his to claim.

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What surprised you the most in gentlemen’s singles quarterfinals?

PM: Novak Djokovic’s brutal honesty about the state of his elbow. Novak has been having an awful year (by his lofty standards), and after retiring from his quarterfinal against Berdych he admitted that he hasn’t “felt this much pain ever”. Not only is this a stark admission about a new injury (this time it’s the elbow), but suggests his once bullet-proof body is starting to break down.

VC: Firstly, that neither Andy Murray nor Novak Djokovic will feature in the Wimbledon semis for the first time since 2008. And while I wasn’t surprised that Federer won over Milos Raonic, I did expect it would be a far more extended battle than the 118 minutes required for the Swiss to secure his fifth straight-sets win of the fortnight.

LR: That Tomas Berdych is still in the tournament. I said in yesterday’s #Smashtalk I was surprised to see him in the quarterfinals, so a semifinal appearance is even more unexpected. Sure Novak Djokovic’s injury played a part, but it has still been a remarkable return to form for the 31-year-old who had only won more than three matches in a row once in the past 12 months.

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What are your predictions for the ladies’ semifinals?

PM: You know what? I firmly believe Magdalena Rybarikova is going to beat Muguruza today. I don’t know why, I just have ‘a feeling’. As for Venus v Konta, I’ve got a sneaky feeling that the Brit is going to march into the final with a straight sets win over the American. Again, it’s ‘a feeling’ (it’s worth noting that I have a lot of feelings around these things and they’re nearly always wrong).

VC: The crafty Magdalena Rybarikova will finally crumble as the more powerful Garbine Muguruza claims a straight-sets win. There’s a big server and powerful returner in Venus Williams versus Johanna Konta but an equal level of competitive fight. I sense that with the family business of winning Wimbledon at stake, it’s Venus who’ll claim a three-set win.

LR: A 37-year-old v the world No.87 in a Wimbledon final does not seem possible – but that’s what I’m predicting. Incredibly competing in her 10^th Wimbledon semifinal, Venus Williams knows how to handle the occasion and will end Johanna Konta’s incredible run. In the other semifinal, Magdalena Rybarikova’s variety will frustrate Garbine Muguruza and draw lots of unforced errors – enough to hand her an improbable victory.

Do you agree or disagree with our panel? Have your say on Facebook and Twitter using #SmashTalk.