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Frenchman Richard Gasquet stopped the top four seeds from clean-sweeping the semifinal spots as he edged French Open champion Stan Wawrinka in a five-set thriller at Wimbledon here on Wednesday.
The other three top seeds Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray all swept into the semifinals, with Federer and Murray facing each other in a mouthwatering showdown for a final berth.
Defending champion Djockovic, also the 2011 winner, eased past US Open champion Marin Cilic of Croatia 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 for the 13th straight victory in their respective careers.
"It was very solid," said the 28-year-old Djokovic. "I didn't know how my body would feel after a tough five-setter against Kevin Anderson in the fourth round. Tactically I played very well. I try not to take my 27th Grand Slam semifinal for granted even though it is expected that top players reach this far. But you need to earn it so I'm very pleased."
It was Djokovic's 650th tour-level match win and his 50th Wimbledon victory. He will miss the chance to avenge Wawrinka for his French Open final defeat last month after the Swiss was stunned by the 21st seed Gasquet 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 11-9 after three hours and 28 minutes.
Djokovic will instead take on Gasquet, whom the Serb has beaten 11 times and lost only once. Gasquet's only victory came at Wimbledon in 2007 when he reached the semifinals.
Seven-time Wimbledon champion Federer reached the last four for the 10th time in his career following his 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 trouncing of another Frenchman Gilles Simon in one hour and 34 minutes.
"I'm very happy to be in the semis again. The road is long getting here," the 33-year-old Federer said.
Rain interrupted play briefly after 14 minutes' play and Simon never recovered. Federer simply denied him the opportunity of finding any rhythm.
Federer, who is through to his 37th Grand Slam semifinal, last won the trophy in 2012 when he defeated Murray.
"I still feel like I'm fresh and I've got energy left in the tank for hopefully a great match with Andy," Federer said of the semifinal match against Murray. "I just hope the crowd gets into it and enjoys a good match and that we can play well. I have received a lot of crowd support over the years, and so has Andy."
Murray, 28, crushed unseeded Vasek Pospisil of Canada 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 to reach his 17th Grand Slam semifinal and sixth at Wimbledon in front of Prince William, his wife Kate and former England football team captain David Beckham.
"I've played Roger many times. I know him well and we get on well, but obviously on Friday it will be a different story. We've played some good matches here and hopefully this will be a great one."
