stepping on a Nets players foot and banging his head again

LONDON -- The match, and Roger Federers bid for a record eighth Wimbledon championship, essentially should have been over after a little more than 1 1/2 hours Wednesday.Already trailing two sets to none, he was down love-40 while serving at 3-all in the third.Once that problem was solved, his quarterfinal against Marin Cilic really could have concluded 45 minutes later, when Federer faced a match point at 5-4 in the fourth. Or 10 minutes and two games later, when Cilic again was a point from winning. Or another 10 minutes after that, when Cilic held a third match point.Through it all, Federer, a month shy of his 35th birthday, would not go away. And Cilic, who beat Federer in straight sets en route to the 2014 US Open title, could not close the deal. Saving that trio of match points, Federer eventually emerged with a dont-look-away-or-youll-miss-something 6-7 (4), 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (9), 6-3 victory over Cilic to reach his 11th semifinal at the All England Club.I fought, I tried, I believed, Federer said after his 10th career comeback from a two-set hole, equaling the most on record. At the end, I got it done.Indeed, he did. When he capped his escape with a pair of aces at 126 mph and 115 mph, the third-seeded Federer thrust both arms overhead and violently wagged his right index finger. Hes no longer ranked No. 1. He hasnt won a Grand Slam trophy since 2012. He dealt with knee surgery and a bad back this season, the first since 2000 that he arrived at Wimbledon without a title. He sat out the French Open, the first major he missed since 1999, raising doubts about his readiness for Wimbledon.To test the body, to be out there again fighting, being in a physical battle -- and winning it -- is an unbelievable feeling, said Federer, who could become the oldest man to win a major since Ken Rosewall was 37 at the 1972 Australian Open. Yeah, I mean, it was an emotional win.On Friday, Federer faces No. 6 Milos Raonic, a 6-4, 7-5, 5-7, 6-4 winner against No. 28 Sam Querrey, the man who surprised No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the third round.Raonic, beaten by Federer in the 2014 Wimbledon semifinals, declared: Im happy that I have another shot at him.On the other half of the draw, No. 10 Tomas Berdych eliminated No. 32 Lucas Pouille 7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-2 and will face No. 2 Andy Murray, who was extended to a fifth set by?No. 12 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga?before winning 7-6 (10), 6-1, 3-6, 4-6, 6-1.Itll be tough for any remaining match to achieve the intensity of Federer vs. Cilic.Both served supremely well for stretches. Federer led in aces, 27-23, was broken only once, and in the last two sets, altered his stance on returns to get a better read on the ninth-seeded Cilics speedy serves. There was a lot of quick-strike tennis, yes, but still room for lengthy, engaging points. There were rare signs of frustration from Federer, who swatted a ball angrily after one fault, then gave a line judge a talking-to about a call.Most memorable, though, were Cilics wasted opportunities, starting at 3-3 in the third set.That switched, a little bit, the momentum, Cilic conceded.He earned three break points by smacking a forehand passing winner. On the first, looking tight, Cilic netted a backhand. On the second, he sent a forehand long, and Federer let out a guttural yell. On the third, Cilics backhand return went wide, and Federer shouted again. Federer took the next two points to hold, and at the ensuing changeover, fans chanted: Lets go, Roger! Lets go!Seemingly all 15,000 or so spectators at Centre Court willed Federer on, rising to their feet and roaring louder with each game -- and, sometimes, each point -- that went their mans way.Roger is very liked everywhere, especially here. ... But it didnt bother me, Cilic said. Obviously, in some situations, it can help him.In the next game, Cilic double-faulted to let Federer break for the first time, and soon the 17-time major champion was shaking his right fist, celebrating. Finally, a set belonged to him. Plenty of work remained: those match points in the fourth set, all on Federers serve.At 30-40 in the 10th game, a gutsy 104 mph second serve drew a long forehand return from Cilic.At 30-40 in the 12th game, Federer conjured up a 120 mph ace.And at 7-6 in the ensuing tiebreaker, Federer again didnt hold back on a second serve, this one at 108 mph, and Cilic flubbed a forehand return, this one into the net.Five minutes later, Federer converted his fifth set point of the tiebreaker, when Cilics forehand found the net. Suddenly, everything was even at two sets apiece, and while Cilic is 7 years younger, it was Federer who thrived as the match moved past the 3-hour mark, grabbing the last three games.This is a big one, Federer said. 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In the lead up - which seemed to begin the moment Mike Geiger blew the whistle in Houston last Thursday night - the Impact rumour mill went into overdrive. The speculation went into meltdown mode, of the golden nugget variety. OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Brooklyn Nets knew they couldnt afford to let Russell Westbrook run wild in the paint.It didnt matter. Westbrook had 30 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds in his fourth triple-double of the season, and the Oklahoma City Thunder rolled past the Nets 124-105 on Friday night.It was the 41st triple-double of Westbrooks career. He attacked relentlessly, making 13 of 21 shots while taking just one 3-pointer, even with the Nets packing the paint on defense.Too many paint attempts, too many rim attempts, Brooklyn coach Kenny Atkinson said. A bunch of them came in transition, unfortunately, where youve really got to try to keep him out of there. Thats easier said than done. He did a good job not settling.Victor Oladipo scored 26 points and Steven Adams added 15 for the Thunder, who won their second straight after a four-game losing streak. Oklahoma City shot 55.1 percent from the field and outrebounded the Nets 46-30.Brook Lopez scored 22 points, and Bojan Bogdanovic and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson each added 13 for the Nets, who lost their third in a row. Brooklyn scored 40 points in the first quarter but never managed more than 23 in a period the rest of the way.They hit some shots early, Westbrook said. Honestly, they played harder than us to start the game, and we turned the page. We did a good job of making them take tough shots and getting out on the break and finishing.The Thunder led 64-61 at halftime behind Westbrooks 20 points, eight assists and six rebounds.Oklahoma City began pulling away early in the third quarter. Westbrook found Oladipo for a reverse layup, then threw a long pass to Joffrey Lauvergne for a dunk that gave the Thunder a 76-66 lead.Westbrook got his triple-double midway through the period. Oladipos floater in the closing seconds of the quarter made it 96-82, and the Thunder cruised in the fourth.Oklahoma City got a season-high 13 points from Lauvergne and a seasonn-high 10 from Alex Abrines.ddddddddddddThe Thunder had a season-high six players in double figures.We did a really good job of finding the open man, said Enes Kanter, who scored 13 points. It was a really fun game because everybody was sharing the ball, and when somebody scored, everybody was just out there cheering for each other.TIP-INSNets: Former Thunder guard Randy Foye started and scored two points in 15:30. ... Lopez matched a career high for 3-pointers in a game by hitting four in the first quarter. ... Anthony Bennett scored a season-high 12 points.Thunder: Shot 57.8 percent in the first half. ... Backup G Semaj Christon left in the third quarter after stepping on a Nets players foot and banging his head against Kanters knee because he couldnt control his fall. Christon was evaluated for concussion-like symptoms and did not return.HALL OF FAMERMichael Jordan inducted Westbrook into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame on Thursday. Westbrook is one of the most visible and successful Jordan Brand athletes. Jordan said he sees some of himself in Westbrook.This kid has the same passion, Jordan said.STAT LINESOladipo has averaged 27.5 points the past two games and made 23 of 35 shots. He went 8 of 13 on 3-pointers in the wins over Houston and Brooklyn.QUOTABLEBrooklyns Trevor Booker shoved Adams in the fourth quarter, and they were both issued technicals. Westbrook said Adams handled it well.He probably didnt feel it, Westbrook said. Probably knowing Steven, that stuff doesnt bother him. Obviously, hes a big dude and a very strong guy. A push dont do nothing for him. He went up there and knocked down a free throw.UP NEXTThe Nets host the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday.The Thunder host the Indiana Pacers on Sunday.---Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CliffBruntAP. ' ' '