Roger Federer set a new serving record as he defeated Gilles Simon to book a Wimbledon semi-final with Andy Murray.
Swiss player Federer extended his latest bid for a record eighth Wimbledon crown by dismissing France's world number 13 Simon 6-3 7-5 6-2 in a commanding display of grass court mastery.
Wimbledon's second seed eclipsed Wayne Arthurs' 16-year-old record of 111 consecutive unbroken service games - reaching 116 in a run that began before Wimbledon, before dropping serve late in the second set - on his way to reaching a 10th semi-final in SW19.
Grass king Federer still covets that elusive eighth Wimbledon title that would push him past Pete Sampras into outright ownership of the greatest men's haul at the All England Club.
His imperious form in southwest London so far this year suggests only a performance of true magnitude will deny him that acclaim.
Federer had predicted his service streak would end against Frenchman Simon, who Kevin Anderson revealed at Queen's Club dubs himself the "return genius".
And so it proved that the 33-year-old's serving run came to an end, Simon stopping Federer serving out the second set, only for his form to collapse straight away.
Federer still pushed his remarkable serving streak long enough to steal the record however, before admitting his response to that break was crucial in victory.
"The reaction was always going to be important for me once the streak ended and the serve was broken," said Federer.
"I think I was able to do that because Gilles is obviously a quality return player and the game I got broken he was too good, so no problems to accept that."
Tennis great Rod Laver took in Federer's victory march, while Hollywood star Bradley Cooper kept the Swiss supremo's wife Mirka company in the players' box on Court One.
Federer had downplayed the significance of his service run ahead of this clash, and may well just feel that the end of his streak relieves a slight level of pressure as he chases that record Wimbledon title.
Federer is hardly the type to let records affect his approach, especially when serving for a set, but there can be no doubt the end of his stunning service streak will leave the focus elsewhere ahead of his last-four clash.
The last time Federer met Murray at Wimbledon the Scot claimed the 2012 Olympic title, in revenge for the Swiss claiming the Wimbledon crown earlier that summer.
Federer admitted that honours ending almost even that year perhaps suited both parties.
"I think we both like to look back at that summer," said Federer. "At the end of the day if we could have had it beforehand that I won Wimbledon and he won the Olympics then we both probably would have taken it.
"It was a great summer for both of us.
"He played unbelievable in the final of the Olympics; I'm not going to look back too much at that one because he dominated me there.
"I'm pleased for him to be in such form because he's worked so hard to come back from a back injury and that's never easy.
"It would be a tough one for me no doubt but I'm looking forward to it."
Murray raced out of the blocks in his quarter-final against Vasek Pospisil to lead by two sets in a rain hampered clash.
Murray has not dropped a set in three consecutive victories over the Canadian, two of them coming this year, and there were few signs of the Scot changing that positive trend in the early stages on Centre Court.
Pospisil had never gone past the third round of a grand slam singles event before this tournament but the world number 56 has benefited from a generous section of the draw, which saw eighth seed David Ferrer withdraw through injury and two-time champion Rafael Nadal dumped out in the second round.
A five-set win on Monday over Queen's Club semi-finalist Viktor Troicki, however, confirmed the 25-year-old's competence on grass and Murray is only too aware of unwelcome surprises at this stage, after his shock quarter-final defeat to Grigor Dimitrov last year.
The British number one seemed more than at ease from the start, as a superb return and then a cute drop shot saw him break Pospisil's serve in the third game.
Murray held comfortably to open up a 3-1 lead, but just as the 28-year-old had established his advantage, the skies opened and play was suspended.
After a break of half an hour, the action resumed and while Pospisil was certainly not blown away, he made too many unforced errors to really put Murray under pressure.
The Scot served out with a flourish, as a superb backhand lob sparked the biggest cheer so far before he sealed the opening set 6-4 after 36 minutes of action
Pospisil's plan was clear - to attack Murray's forehand and, whenever the chance came, charge the net where his volleying was precise and more reliable than his groundstrokes.
The Canadian enjoyed a strong spell at the start of the second set and he led 4-3 on serve when another shower stopped play for a second time, prompting the roof to be closed.
Typically, just as the roof was shut, blue skies emerged and the sun came out. But with further rain forecast - a fact emphasised by the tournament announcer - the decision seemed a wise one.
Murray was certainly unfazed, holding with ease upon the restart and then claiming an all-important break at 5-5 when his fizzing backhand pass was too good for the diving Pospisil to retrieve.
On the point before, Pospisil had been handed a time violation by umpire Pascal Maria and he seemed distracted by the decision, shaking his head at the change of ends, and then allowing Murray to serve out with ease as the Scot clinched the second set 7-5.
Pospisil took a toilet break before saving two break points in the opening game of the third set.
Murray kept up the pressure on his opponent's serve but it was not until the ninth game that he finally struck as Maria handed Pospisil another time violation, this time costing him his first serve, before a sizzling Murray backhand gave the Scot the breakthrough.
Pospisil dug deep to extend the contest but after saving one match point he failed to survive another, and Murray seized his chance to book another meeting with Federer.
After the match, Murray said he hopes the British public continue to side with him rather than switch allegiance to Federer.
"I hope I get good support on Friday. It's been the case throughout the whole event and every year that I played here.
"Roger's extremely popular everywhere he goes, so it might not be as partisan a crowd or atmosphere as some matches that I play here.
"But it will still be an excellent atmosphere. I'll still get a boost from the crowd, I'm sure."
Novak Djokovic continued his quest to retain his Wimbledon title with a commanding straight-sets victory over Marin Cilic.
Tournament favourite Djokovic dismissed ninth seed Cilic 6-4 6-4 6-4, saying: "Tactically I played very well."
Djokovic will meet the winner of Stan Wawrinka and Richard Gasquet in the semi-finals.
Top seed Djokovic had not lost a match to the Croat and his unbeaten record never looked in danger against the US Open champion who failed to master the Serb's precise groundstrokes.
The holder made it into his 27th grand slam semi with his 50th win at Wimbledon, only the seventh man to reach that number of victories, and was surely relieved to have an easy time of it.
The Serb had to recover from two sets down in the last 16 against South African Kevin Anderson but his crisp passing shots ensured big-serving ninth seed Cilic never got a look in.
Referring to the grueling encounter with Anderson, Djokovic said: "I didn't know how my body was going to feel but I was hoping I would play well, which I have done."
Cilic, watched by his coach Goran Ivanisevic, Wimbledon champion in 2001, was the surprise winner of his first grand slam at Flushing Meadows last year but has failed to reach those heights since.
He made too many unforced errors from the baseline against Djokovic and, although he successfully tried to serve and volley early on, he relied on his booming serve and powerful groundstrokes.
The trouble was that Djokovic outclassed him in both departments and when Cilic tried to mix it up, his dropshots invariably fell short and his volleying eventually went awry.
Djokovic broke Cilic for the first time with a simple volley to go 3-1 up in the opening set and converted his fourth set point when the Croat hit a forehand into the net.
The second set went with serve until Djokovic marched 40-0 ahead and, though Cilic saved one break point with an ace he then netted a sliced backhand to go 5-4 behind.
The final set was all too predictable as Djokovic went 4-3 ahead when Cilic hit a forehand long at 40-15 down and the Serb closed it out on his second match point in similar fashion.
Djokovic will play Frenchman Richard Gasquet in the semi-final.
Gasquet overcame French Open champion Stan Wawrinka, conquerer of Djokovic at Roland Garros, in a gruelling five set contest to set up the clash.
Gasquet forced the match to five sets, only to slip up when serving for the match - but the undeterred 21st seed recovered his poise to move past his 30-year-old Swiss opponent.
Gasquet booked his first Wimbledon semi-final since 2007 with a 6-4 4-6 3-6 6-4 11-9 win in a vintage battle that gripped the Court One crowd.
France's world number 20 admitted he had to come through several big tests of nerve to book just the third grand slam semi-final of his career.
The 29-year-old from Beziers will now take on Djokovic in Friday's last-four match-up, conceding the defending champion will enter their clash as hot favourite.
"I really wanted to win; it's a quarter-final and a big match against Stan," said Gasquet.
"I kept fighting and I'm really pleased to do it.
"I was very aggressive, and of course it's a great battle, and to win, it's wonderful.
"It was tough for me that last set, but it was great to come through.
"I will be happy with how I played today and I will try to do the same again against Novak.
"He will be the favourite of the match, everyone knows that.
"He's the best player in the world, and I will try my best."
Gasquet produced some exquisite drop shots and volleys against Wawrinka, as well as whipping his trademark backhand down the lines on his way to victory.
It was emotional for me," he said. "For a start he won in Paris and I'm French - I know what it means in France," he said. "And now this is the biggest tournament in the world."
