The men's semi-finalists have been decided at Wimbledon but it took a marathon quarterfinal between Frenchman Richard Gasquet and French Open tennis champion Stan Wawrinka to find the final four.
The defending champion Novak Djokovic advanced along with former champions Roger Federer and Andy Murray
But Wawrinka, who was chasing rare French Open and Wimbledon double, looked out of sorts from the first set, spraying his groundstrokes uncharacteristically long and wide on a breezy Court One and failing to tame the stinging backhand of the 21st-seeded Gasquet.
French Open winner Stan Wawrinka has been eliminated from Wimbledon at the quarter final stage. Photo: Photosport
Gasquet, who reached the Wimbledon semi finals in 2007, evenutally prevailed in five sets taking the final set 11-9.
Djokovic beat US Open winner Marin Cilic in straight sets 6-4 6-4 6-4 to chalk up his 50th win at Wimbledon.
Djokovic had not lost a match to the Croat in 12 previous meetings and his unbeaten record never looked in danger against the U.S. Open champion who failed to master the Serb's precise groundstrokes.
Defending champion Novak Djokovic is through the semi-finals. Photo: Photosport
Third seed Andy Murray was solid if not adventurous in his quarter final against Canadian Vasek Pospisil winning a rain-interrupted match 6-4 7-5 6-4 to reach his sixth All England Club semi-final where seven-times champion Roger Federer awaits.
Federer enjoyed a three set win over Frenchman Gilles Simon.
Although Simon lost he did become the first player to break the Swiss maestro's serve which he had held for 116 successive service games stretching back to the first round of last month's Halle Open.
