ROGER Federer's (pic) Wimbledon waltz collides with the wild world of Marat Safin today as the volatile Russian looks to complete his All England Club fairytale and stop the Swiss superstar in his elegant tracks.

Federer tackles the former US Open and Australian Open champion in a mouthwatering semi-final with a historic sixth successive Wimbledon title tantalisingly within his grasp.

It should be a stroll.

After all he is the world No 1 and top seed while Safin came into the tournament at a humble 75 in the rankings.

Federer has beaten Safin eight times in 10 meetings and has not lost on grass for six years, 64 matches ago.
Federer beat Mario Ancic Croatia 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 in Wednesday's quarter-final while Safin had to dig deep to overcome Spain's Feliciano Lopez 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-1).



But Federer also knows that the 28-year-old Safin is the game's most unpredictable talent; a genius one day, a joke the next.

Federer will also remember that when Safin clinched a shock Australian Open title in 2005, it was his title that the Russian took courtesy of a dramatic 5-7, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (8/6), 9-7 win in the semi-final.

"It was a great match and I went through unbelievable pain," recalled Federer who will be playing in a 17th successive Grand Slam semi-final.

"I was struggling with my feet and I could hardly run. I saw some highlights. I can't believe how well we actually played, because I thought Marat was playing at his peak and I was playing almost as good as I could."

Federer, an astute observer of the game, has nothing but respect for the giant Russian who stunned third seed Novak Djokovic in straight sets in the second round here.

Since then Safin has claimed the scalps of three more seeded players -- Andreas Seppi, Stanislas Wawrinka and Feliciano Lopez.



Safin, who has been written off so many times, admitted he has even shocked himself.

"I'm surprised I'm still here. I'm surprised I won two Grand Slams," he said.

"But this is my first semi-final here. To beat Federer you need to be like Nadal and run around like a rabbit and hit winners from all over the place."

Second seed Rafael Nadal, who has lost to Federer in the last two finals, faces Germany's Rainer Schuettler who beat Arnaud Clement of France 6-3, 5-7, 7-6, 6-7, 8-6 in his semi-final. -- AFP