Eleven years after their unforgettable final, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will meet Friday, in half, on the Center Court. Guaranteed chills.

For the 40th time on the circuit, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will face off on Friday, in the last four of Wimbledon. The Swiss dismissed Kei Nishikori, before the Spaniard dominated Sam Querrey.

35 days after their last clash, a semi-final of Roland Garros easily won by the Spaniard (6-3, 6-4, 6-2), Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will be opposed Friday at Wimbledon, where they had only previously crossed in the final (2006, 2007 and 2008). But it is in the last four square that these two living legends of tennis will be face to face for the 40th time on the circuit (24-15 for Nadal, but 1-2 at the All England Club).

Federer, the quarter-finalist who had spent the shortest time on the London courts, was the first to get his ticket, with the passing record of the number of victories on the same Major (100). But he must have fought against Kei Nishikori, who had pushed him to a match in five sets in their only Grand Slam opposition, at the Australian Open in 2017. This time, "Rodgeur" ​​did not need "than" four rounds to make his opponent listen to reason (4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 in 2h36).

An aggressive Japanese who took the best start, before being swept in the second act. The debates were then balanced in a third set very hung, where Federer finally managed to make the break at 3-3. And in the fourth run, despite many opportunities to seize the opposing service, the Swiss, almost relentless on his faceoffs and author of 11 aces, had to wait until 4-4 to crack Nishikori, stopped for the third time of the year in the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam.

"Rafa? We have a lot of information about him, like him about us," he then explained with a smile, asked about a possible reunion with the Mallorcan, and I know that everyone is waiting for this match, as in Paris. It would be very exciting. " A few tens of minutes later, this 40th encounter became reality, thanks to the success, much quieter, of Nadal against Sam Querrey (7-5, 6-2, 6-2 in 2:06).

The American giant, used to cutting heads at Wimbledon (Djokovic in 2016, Murray in 2017), has deluded a round, the first, breaking at 4-5 while Nadal had obtained four set balls. The result will have been much less contested, "Rafa" sickening little by little the 65th world player. A Spaniard "very impatient" to fight again with Federer on the English turf. And he's probably not the only one waiting for this shock ...