Student Federer passes latest examination

LONDON (Reuters) - Roger Federer accumulates records like other players tally up double faults and if anything the Swiss maestro gets more inspired every time he chalks up a new line in the sport's annals.

Federer, who has become a student of the game, reeled off his latest accomplishments like a schoolboy proudly reciting his exam results.

Friday's semi-final victory over Germany's Tommy Haas added another clutch of lines to his biography; a modern era record seventh straight Wimbledon final, a record 20th appearance in a men's grand slam final, the list goes on.

"I'm very proud of all the records I've achieved, because I never thought I would be that successful as a kid," said Federer after a 7-6 7-5 6-3 victory in which Haas never had a sniff of a break point.

"I would have been happy winning a couple of tournaments and maybe collecting Wimbledon, sort of achieving the dream scenario. But not really all those records."

One landmark, however, stands above all at Wimbledon this year -- the chance to surpass the record of 14 grand slam titles he shares with Pete Sampras. He climbed aside the American on the podium when he gained his maiden French Open title in Paris last month.

The mark has particular poignancy for the Swiss given the friendship he has developed with Sampras, whose modern era record of seven Wimbledon titles could look even more vulnerable if Federer wins his sixth on Sunday.

"I think his success here at Wimbledon being able to win it seven times. It's amazing," said Federer, who played his own part in ending Sampras's domination of the game by beating the American in the fourth round at Wimbledon in 2001.

"His fluid game. I guess the best serve we've seen in tennis history, even though today we also have some good ones. But it's just the way he used it and the way he backed it up.

"What a smooth mover he was, as well, which he never really got credit for. There's many things that Pete did incredibly well."

Word has it that 'Pistol' Pete may return to Center Court for the first time as a spectator on Sunday to see Federer snatch the grand slams record from under his nose.

(Editing by Pritha Sarkar; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)