Imperious Federer strolls into semis

World number one Roger Federer barely broke sweat as he brushed aside Mario Ancic 6-1 7-5 6-4 to reach a sixth consecutive Wimbledon semi-final.

The Swiss star strolled through the first set in 20 minutes and only the rain could hold him up in the second.

Drizzle kept the players off court for just over two hours, but when he returned, Federer continued where he left off to see off the Croat in one hour 41 minutes without even facing a break point.

He awaits the winner of the match between Feliciano Lopez and Marat Safin.

Federer told the BBC: 'I'm playing great, serving excellent. I've got a high first serve percentage, many aces again.

'It was a tough day with the rain delays. They definitely broke my momentum a little bit because I started really well, but I got back into the match and played well all the way through.

'It's a long way to get to the semis, I am one of the privileged ones. It's a big occasion, I know how to do it and I'm really looking forward to that challenge.'

Ancic was the last player to beat Federer at the All England Club back in 2002, but Federer had won 63 consecutive games on grass since then.

And the Croat knew he was in for a tough afternoon when Federer produced a pair of aces and a backhand volley to hold the first game to love.

The Croat came to the net behind every point in his first service game, but sent a backhand volley into the net to give Federer two break points - and did the same again to hand his Swiss opponent the game.

Ancic held his next service game and finally took a point off the Federer serve in game five, but it was the smallest of victories.

Federer held to 15 and passed Ancic at will in the next game for his second break of the match, before serving out to love to take the first set in 20 minutes.

The rain came with the players tied at 1-1 in the second and, when the players finally returned, Ancic immediately looked in a better frame of mind - holding his first service game with only a double fault going in Federer's favour.

A rare Federer unforced error saw the next game go to deuce, but the 26-year-old pulled out two big serves when he needed them.

Ancic was made to battle in game seven, producing some stout defence before holding with his sixth ace, but Federer showed off his silky forehand to hold to love once more, levelling at 4-4.

At 5-5, Ancic netted a backhand volley to give Federer break point - and he duly handed the Swiss the advantage with a double fault.

And Federer served out to 15 to claim a two-set advantage.

Ancic had at least been competitive in the second set, but things threatened to get away from him when he fell 0-30 down straight away in the third.

An exquisite Federer passing return then made it 30-40 but he went long to take what proved to be a marathon game to deuce.

Ancic eventually held, but only after 16 minutes, when the deuce-count had reached double figures.

His next service game was a simpler affair - he held to love - and he appeared to have a chance to break in the following game as Federer slipped to 0-30, but the Swiss reeled off four straight points to hold.

And when Federer converted the first of two break points for a 3-2 advantage, there was no way back for Ancic.

The number one seed held to love in his next three service games to advance in serene fashion.