Djokovic faces Murray, Federer takes on Del Potro

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates his victory over France’s Jo-Wilfred Tsonga during their men’s single tennis quarterfinal match at the London 2012 Olympic Games in London. Djokovic believes he will need to produce one of his greatest performances to win his Olympic semi-final showdown with Andy Murray.

LONDON - Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray face an Olympic semi-final showdown after easing through their quarter-finals on Thursday, while Roger Federer set up a last four clash with Juan Martin del Potro.

With the winner guaranteed at least a silver medal for the first time in their careers, the clash between world number two Djokovic and Wimbledon runner-up Murray on Friday promises to be classic encounter.

Serbia’s Djokovic, a bronze medallist at the 2008 Games in Beijing, looks in good form heading into the last four after defeating French fifth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-1, 7-5 on Wimbledon’s Centre Court.

Murray has also been in dominant mood this week and the world number four gave a royal command performance as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge watched him crush Spanish 11th seed Nicolas Almagro 6-4, 6-1 on Court One.

Djokovic has won eight of his 13 meetings with Britain’s Murray, including an epic five-setter at the Australian Open earlier this year, but he is well aware he will have to battle a partisan British crowd as well as the dynamic Scot.

Britain’s Catherine (R) and William, Duchess and Duke of Cambridge, react as they watch Britain’s Andy Murray play against Spain’s Nicolas Almagro a London 2012 Olympic Games men’s singles quarterfinal match at Wimbledon, in south London.

“He’s going to have big support from the crowd,” Djokovic said. “He was close to winning his first Grand Slam just a couple weeks ago so he’s motivated as much as I am to win this match.

“Am I going to enjoy to be a bad guy? Well, as I said, he’s a home favorite, a hero, somebody that carries tennis in Great Britain.

“The whole nation will be watching and hoping he can get to the finals and win a medal for his country. Obviously I will have to play on top of my game to have a chance to win.”

Winning the Games would be the perfect way for Murray to make amends for his Wimbledon final defeat against Federer, but he insists there is no chance he will look past his clash against Djokovic and start dreaming of golden glory.

“It’s great to get to this stage. That was the goal coming into the tournament,” Murray said.

Britain’s Andy Murray returns the ball to Spain’s Nicolas Almagro during their men’s singles tennis quarterfinal match of the 2012 London Olympic Games at the All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London. Novak Djokovic and Murray face an Olympic semi-final showdown after easing through their quarter-finals on Thursday.

“If I win one of the next two matches, I’ll give myself a shot at the medal. But obviously winning the this one is the most important thing just now.

“It’s going to be a tough match against Novak and I need to be ready for it.”

In the other half of the draw, Wimbledon champion Federer continued his march towards a first singles gold medal with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) victory over American 10th seed John Isner on Centre Court.

Federer, a doubles gold medallist in Beijing, found it tough to subdue the 6ft 9in big-server, but eventually cut Isner down to size to reach the last four of the Games for the first time since Sydney in 2000.

Switzerland’s Roger Federer serves to US John Isner during their men’s single tennis quarterfinal match at the London 2012 Olympic Games in London. Federer won the match.

“I have my hands full with Juan Martin. He’s obviously beaten me in the biggest match we’ve played against each other, the finals of the US Open. I’m aware of that,” Federer said.

“He’s a big player with a big serve. That makes it obviously tricky on a fast court like grass.

“But confidence is a funny thing. You go out there, when it’s important, you are able to thread the needle.

“It’s the weirdest thing really. I don’t want to say that I feel invincible right now, but I feel good.”

Federer has won 12 of his 14 encounters with del Potro, including a fightback from two sets down at this year’s French Open, but the Argentine can take heart from his win over the Swiss in that 2009 US Open final.

And Del Potro, a 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) winner over Japanese 15th seed Kei Nishikori, would love to end Argentina’s wait for a first medal at this year’s Games.

“We are looking for our first medal. All our country is cheering for us,” he said.

“I am very happy to be in the semifinals in my first Olympic Games. It is amazing. I dont have too many words to explain this moment.”