Djokovic in way of Federer Wimbledon history bid

Roger Federer can win a record eighth Wimbledon title and become the oldest champion of the modern era on Sunday if he can find a way past world number one Novak Djokovic.

The 33-year-old Swiss has defied those who dared to write him off when he lost last year's final to the Serb in five gruelling sets.

His breathtaking demolition of Andy Murray in Friday's semi-finals was a throwback to his years of Grand Slam dominance when he captured 16 of his 17 majors in a seven-year spell between 2003 and 2010.

Now he has reached a 10th Wimbledon final, the oldest man to do so since 39-year-old Ken Rosewall in 1974, and his 26th Grand Slam final overall.

A win on Sunday would break the tie of seven Wimbledon titles he shares with Pete Sampras and which he levelled with his most recent Slam, the 2012 All England Club crown.

Ahead of their 40th career meeting, Federer and defending champion Djokovic are <g data-gr-id="88">equally-matched</g>. 

Federer has a 20-19 career edge in their head-to-heads but they are locked at 6-6 in the Grand Slams. In finals at the major<g data-gr-id="101">s they</g> are 1-1 with Djokovic's Wimbledon triumph of 12 months ago following Federer's straight sets victory in the 2007 US Open.

"It's great to play Novak anywhere these days because he's a great player. He's had unbelievable success throughout his career," said Federer.

"But especially now the last few years, he's been unbelievably dominant, especially on the hard courts, then he improved on the grass. On the clay, he's one of the best, if not the best.

"He's become very match tough. He always shows up. It's tough to beat him. He's been good for the game." The pair have already met three times in 2015 -- Djokovic winning the finals at Indian Wells and Rome after Federer had come out on top in the Dubai final. That loss in the UAE was just one of three for Djokovic all year with the third coming at the worst possible time at the hands of an inspired Stan Wawrinka in the French Open final, the only Slam still to elude him. 

Federer allowed Murray just one break point in his 7-5, 7-5, 6-4 semi-final win and that was in the first game as the great Swiss went <g data-gr-id="87">onto</g> finish with 20 aces and 56 winners.

It was also his 79th match win at Wimbledon and he is closing in on Jimmy Connors' record of 84.

But now he has to figure out Djokovic, who has yet to hit top gear at Wimbledon despite having made his fourth final. He had to come back from two sets down to beat Kevin Anderson in the fourth round and he was struggling to match Richard Gasquet's laser-accurate, one-handed backhand in the first set of his semi-final before he raced to a 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, 6-4 victory. 

Djokovic, chasing his ninth Grand Slam title in his 17th final, boasts impressive numbers this year. He is 47-3, collecting a fifth Australian Open as well as Masters titles at Indian Wells, Miami, <g data-gr-id="86">Monte Carlo</g> and Rome. 

Seven-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer hailed his straight-sets semi-final demolition of Andy Murray as one of the best of his career on Friday. The 33-year-old Swiss became the oldest All England Club finalist since 39-year-old Ken Rosewall in 1974 when he swept past 2013 champion Murray 7-5, 7-5, 6-4 to set up a rematch of last year’s final against Novak Djokovic, a clash he lost in five sets. <g data-gr-id="119">Victory</g> put Federer into his 10th Wimbledon final and 26th at all the Grand Slams where he will seek a record eighth All England Club title and 18th major. His victory over Murray was his most impressive performance in recent years and featured 20 aces, 56 winners and just 11 unforced errors. He allowed the 28-year-old world number three, who he has now defeated in five out of six Grand Slam clashes, just one break point and that was in the opening game of the <g data-gr-id="121">two hour</g> seven minute match.