LONDON -- Like the patch of scorched earth around the baselines of Centre Court, Roger Federers nearly 35-year-old body isnt quite what it used to be.Thirteen years ago, he won his first Grand Slam singles title here at the All England Club, and then, nine years later, his most recent. In the four years since, Federers has become increasingly fragile, at times even brittle, despite reaching the final here the past two years.With a berth in Fridays semifinals (8 a.m. ET on ESPN/WatchESPN) secure after a soaring two-sets-to-love comeback against Marin Cilic, its easy to forget that Federer is coming off his first missed major since 1999. He underwent knee surgery in February, a career first, and an uncooperative back forced him to sit out Roland Garros.Against Cilic, the No. 3 seed somehow got better as the match, his first five-setter in nearly two years, progressed. In typical Federer fashion, he was fascinated by the challenge.What I like about being in a fifth set is you actually get really tested to see where is your fitness, where is your mind at, Federer said afterward. Can your shoulder, your back, your legs -- can they sustain 3 hours, 17 [minutes] of just hitting big serves, running, being explosive.Can it handle it? Thats why I was very intrigued, pushing myself a lot in the fifth to get over the finish line because I was feeling as good at the end as I was in the beginning. That gives me, I think, a lot of confidence moving forward from here.Forward translates to a date with No. 6 seed Milos Raonic, a classic confrontation between an aging champion and an ascendant, possible future champion. At 25, Raonic is nearly a decade younger and has a big game that is highly conducive to grass. On Wednesday, Raonic dismissed American Sam Querrey, who earlier knocked No. 1 Novak Djokovic out of the tournament to destroy the Serbs dream of a calendar Slam.Raonic, 6-foot-5 with an enormous wingspan, has always had a big serve and forehand. He has 114 aces for the fortnight, tied with John Isner, who lost in the third round, for most in the tournament. Federer, by comparison, is at 65.Since Raonic brought John McEnroe into his coaching circle before the French Open, the Canadian has been more aggressive, working his way toward the net when he can. Some here have made comparisons to Pete Sampras.That was a part of the motivation to bring [McEnroe] along to help, was to improve that aspect of how much I can implement it in my game and how to use it and what the right moments are, Raonic said.Two years ago here, Federer drilled Raonic in a drama-free 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 semifinal. But earlier this year in Brisbane, Australia, Raonic won by the same count but in two sets.I look forward to it a lot, Raonic said. Definitely a great opportunity. Two years have passed since I played him here in the semifinals. Im happy that I have another shot at him. One thing, Ill probably look at that one from the beginning of this year, what I did well. Probably from the mental side, Ill look at what I wouldnt want to repeat from two years ago.Raonic insisted he is now better-equipped to win the Grand Slam that many have predicted for him.Definitely mentally, physically, he said. I think from every aspect, Ive improved. I know how to sort of turn things around to get them on my terms. And then when things arent going well, I know what things to look for to change.I came here with a simple goal for this tournament. I think everybody on my team has that same objective. I think thats why John was willing to join, for that same goal.That goal is to win the tournament. Federer, of course, is thinking the same thing.It was fitting that the signature win over Cilic was Federers 307th in a Grand Slam singles match. That would be one more than Martina Navratilovas total of 306, the previous record for Grand Slam victories.Funny, people were rubbing it in my face on Twitter and stuff, the 18-time Grand Slam champion Navratilova said Wednesday. I didnt even know what the number was until I saw all that. Now its a different measuring stick. Slams get all the glory.The important records to me now are nine Wimbledon titles, 74 matches in row, 80 tournaments winning singles and doubles same event.Federers not quite there, yet, but eight Wimbledon titles would be a mens record.Today was epic, Federer said, understandably sounding a bit giddy. Probably going to look back at this as being a great, great match that I played in my career, on Centre Court here at Wimbledon. This is huge for me, my season, my career. 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PALOS VERDES ESTATES, Calif. -- The days appear numbered for the Stone Fort, a venerable edifice that was illegally erected decades ago by a group of surfers and became a beachhead in their ongoing war to keep outsiders away from some of the best waves in Southern California.Under pressure from the California Coastal Commission, the City Council in tony Palos Verdes Estates voted unanimously Tuesday to have the concrete-and-stone structure torn down.A public hearing is scheduled in September to discuss how to do it, but the city manager in the seaside community of multimillion-dollar homes and priceless views says jackhammers are the likely solution.The impressive structure is made of rock walls and sits on the beach just above the tide line at the base of towering cliffs. Its amenities include a table, bench, fire pit, shaded patio and a place to store boards and kayaks.Critics have claimed in a lawsuit that a murky group of local surfers known as the Lunada Bay Boys use it an observation point to spy on arriving outsiders then harass them when they reach the shore.The lawsuit indicates most members of the Bay Boys are middle-aged men and longtime residents of Palos Verdes Estates. Members, however, make a point of not advertising their affiliation in public or on T-shirts or surf gear.Many residents deny the group exists at all, and no one identified themselves as a Bay Boy at the council meeting.Surfer Magazine recently listed the Lunada Bay beach as one of five places to avoid -- no matter how good the waves break.To get there youll have to duck rocks chucked by the Bay Boys, the magazine said while mocking the wealthy locals. And your car windows will get waxed. And your tires might get slashed. Youll endure chest-thumping and lip-quivering threats shouted froom the beach shack the Boys inhabit near the shore.ddddddddddddhile calling for the removal of the fort, council members cited liability issues, including concerns that an outsider might fall from one of the fairly treacherous pathways to the breakwater while toting a board.But the fact is that the Stone Fort has been under assault for months by an increasingly agitated group of outsiders who say the Bay Boys use it as a staging area to keep others off the beach and away from the primo waves.The class-action lawsuit filed against the city and several residents in March by a pair of outsiders describes the Bay Boys as more thugs than surfers. It accuses them of running out-of-towners over with their boards in the water and even taking their wallets, wetsuits and surfboards.Police say the fort is almost always deserted by the time officers respond to complaints about the treatment.The Coastal Commission, noting the structure was built without a permit, told the city to either remove it or apply for a permit with the promise of ending the harassment and providing better access to the beach.Locals say waves along the beach can be spectacular but only occur about 30 days a year in the winter. When the surf is up, everyone wants to be there and thats when the Bay Boys get busy.They tend to be aggressive in keeping other surfers out or intimidating people who look like they are going to surf, 15-year resident Cliff Filepe said as he walked his dogs along the bluffs, noting that he has never been bothered by the group.I dont know that they bother anybody who just wants to stand around here, but they consider the surfing their territory, he said. cheap falcons jerseys cheap ravens jerseys cheap bills jerseys cheap bears jerseys cheap bengals jerseys cheap cowboys jerseys cheap lions jerseys cheap texans jerseys cheap colts jerseys cheap jaguars jerseys cheap chiefs jerseys cheap rams jerseys cheap dolphins jerseys cheap vikings jerseys cheap saints jerseys cheap giants jerseys cheap jets jerseys cheap eagles jerseys cheap steelers jerseys cheap 49ers jerseys ' ' '