Sporting Life - Wimbledon 2008

Roger Federer says Marat Safin's lowly ranking is "ridiculous" ahead of their Wimbledon semi-final.

The five-time champion is aware that Safin is playing the best grass-court tennis of his career after reaching the last four at the All England Club for the first time.

Federer has won his last 64 matches on his favourite surface, including two against the Russian, but still believes Safin poses a real danger to his quest to become the first man to win the title six times in a row.

"He's finally showing again what he can do," Federer said. "It's just quite surprising he's doing it here at Wimbeldon, because he used to dislike playing on this surface.

"Last year I wasn't happy to see Safin in my draw. I'm never happy and he probably knows that. He's just been disappointed with the way he's been playing lately, but hopefully he's got a second thing going."

Safin realistic

Surly Safin has beaten Federer just twice in their 10 previous meetings and did his best to play down his chances of triumphing for a third time after his four-set quarter-final win over Feliciano Lopez.

But Safin is clearly beginning to relish his two weeks in SW19 and showed glimpses in the fourth set against Lopez of the hard-hitting accuracy which once briefly made him the man to beat.

Safin said: "I have had to deal with the things I have had in my life, a lot of injuries. I'm tired of making comebacks every year. It's annoying but that's my career. I'm managing to enjoy it.

"Throughout the week I've had some tough matches and a lot of pressure. I think I've been playing great tennis and very close to my best tennis. But just a little bit more would be great."

However the smart money remains on a third consecutive final between Federer and Rafael Nadal, who bludgeoned Andy Murray to last-eight defeat and starts an unbackable favourite in his semi-final clash.

Nadal insists his best is yet to come as he prepares to push Federer further than last year's five-set final epic, in which the Spaniard held four break points in the final set before finally folding to defeat.

Nadal said: "You can improve the serve. You can improve everything. If Federer can improve, I can improve a lot.

"Last year was close. Only one more point and I probably would have had the trophy in my home. It was disappointing to have another plate.

"I don't know if this year I'm going to have more chances to win the title. I have to play well if I want to win this tournament. I am playing well, but I don't know if it is going to be enough."