Djokovic, Federer in semis

London

Defending champion Novak Djokovic eased into the Wimbledon semi-finals yesterday as Roger Federer and Andy Murray set-up a mouthwatering clash for a spot in the championship match.

But Roland Garros champion Stan Wawrinka was unable to complete a clean-sweep of the semi-finals by the top four when he was knocked out by French 21st seed Richard Gasquet in a five-set thriller.

Top seed and world number one Djokovic, also the champion in 2011, made the semi-finals for a sixth successive year and seventh time in total by demolishing ninth seed and US Open winner Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

It was the 28-year-old Serb's 13th win in 13 matches against the Croatian. Second seeded Federer, the seven-time champion, reached his 10th Wimbledon semi-final with a 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 win over French 12th seed Gilles Simon.

Murray, the third seed, cruised into his sixth All England Club semi-final with an equally comfortable 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 win against unseeded Canadian Vasek Pospisil. Djokovic, an eight-time Grand Slam champion, hit 27 winners and committed just 12 unforced errors without allowing a break point to Cilic.

"It was a very solid performance after a tough five-set match against Kevin (Anderson) in the fourth round," Djokovic said. "The top players are expected to reach the final stages of these competitions, but still I'm happy to make my way through. Of course I try not to take it for granted."

There were two other significant landmarks for Djokovic yesterday -- his 650th tour-level match win and his 50th Wimbledon victory. Federer, 33, who is bidding to become the oldest Wimbledon champion in the Open Era, will be playing in his 37th Grand Slam semi-final.

He shrugged off two rain delays as well as being broken for the first time at the tournament to complete victory over Simon in just 94 minutes. Federer fired 11 aces and 36 winners as he secured a sixth win in eight meetings with Simon.

Federer holds a narrow 12-11 lead over Murray and has won their last three clashes.He defeated the British third seed in the 2012 Wimbledon final their only meeting at the tournament -- before Murray gained revenge just weeks later in the Olympic Games final.