Federer ready for Grosjean

By Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Wimbledon

Preview: Federer v Grosjean Preview: Ancic v Roddick

Roger Federer and Andy Roddick will try to live up to their seedings by coming through the Wimbledon semi-finals on Friday.

Top seed and defending champion Federer takes on 10th seed Sebastien Grosjean in the first match on Centre Court.

And second seed Roddick meets unseeded Mario Ancic, conqueror of Tim Henman, in the day's second semi-final.

Play is scheduled to start at 1300 BST but rain showers are predicted throughout the afternoon.

Federer has been in majestic form so far but expects a tough challenge from Grosjean, who was a semi-finalist last year.

"He's been going through the draw quite comfortably," said Federer. "He's a very tricky player to play against.

"He returns well, his first serve is very good and he moves well. This is a dangerous combination, he has a lot of weapons.

I don't know what's in the water in Croatia, but it seems like every player is over seven feet tall Andy Roddick on Mario Ancic

"He plays well on grass so it will be a difficult match."

The low-profile Grosjean will be a huge underdog but he too has made smooth progress through the draw.

"For sure, he's the best player on the tour, but against him I have nothing to lose," said the Frenchman.

"I have to try and play agressively and enjoy the match."

Roddick is desperate to add the Wimbledon crown to the US Open title he won last September, and will want to avenge last year's semi-final defeat to Federer.

But after Ancic's surprise win over Tim Henman, the American is not looking past the next match.

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"I played Ancic at Queen's and I was lucky to win, to be quite honest," said Roddick. "So I knew he could play.

"He's serving great. I don't know what's in the water in Croatia, but it seems like every player is over seven feet tall.

"He's committed to coming in on every shot - there's not a lot of indecision in his game right now."

And Roddick does not expect the pressure of a Grand Slam semi-final to get to the Croatian.

"Playing Tim in Centre Court of Wimbledon, there's some pressure there," said Roddick.

"Being in the semis of a Grand Slam, there's some pressure there.

"Now, where the expectations may lie is a different story."

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