Roger Federer ruthlessly destroyed Lleyton Hewitt 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) in a breathtaking Centre Court semi-final demolition to move just one win away from a third successive Wimbledon title on Friday.
The 23-year-old world number one will face either last year's runner-up Andy Roddick, the American second seed, or Thomas Johansson, the 12th seed from Sweden, in Sunday's final.
The win was Federer's 35th successive win on grass with his last defeat on the surface coming at the hands of Mario Ancic on Centre Court in 2002, the year that Hewitt won the title.
It was also Federer's eighth win in a row over the Australian, a run stretching back to the Davis Cup semi-finals in 2003 when Hewitt fought back from a two-set deficit.
Since that time it has been all Federer with Hewitt managing to take just one set off the Swiss master in those seven meetings and that came in the quarter-finals here last year.
"I'm really pleased to be in my third Wimbledon final," said Federer. "It feels fantastic, I can't believe it. It was so smooth today and to win in straight sets is a huge relief. "
"This was my 35th win so maybe it looks like I'm unbeatable on grass. I hope that the run won't be snapped on Sunday because I have won my last 20 finals." Hewitt admitted that he had been completely outplayed. "
"I didn't go after it enough when I had the small opportunities," said Hewitt. "But he serves well in the corners and hits a lot of lines. He was the better player, he dictated the points better than me."
"He doesn't give you many free points. That's where his game has improved, you don't get any cheap points from him anymore."
Hewitt had come into the semi-final still simmering with resentment over being seeded three instead of two which would have been in line with his world ranking and would have kept him away from Federer until the final.
Federer struck first breaking Hewitt to lead 2-0 before the Australian hit back immediately but the Swiss then edged ahead to 5-3 when he played a sweetly-timed backhand which the Australian could only guide into the net
The top seed got to set point with his third ace and took the opener after just 36 minutes when Hewitt again netted a service return.
The 24-year-old Hewitt struggled to match Federer's change of pace and trademark accuracy and angles. He went down a break to trail to 4-2 in the second set and when Federer held to lead 5-3, the champion had dropped just two points on his serve.
The Australian saved a set point in the ninth game but he was powerless to prevent Federer from clinching the second set when he was run out wide by another searing forehand and could only steer his reply into the net
Federer made just two unforced errors in the second set as Hewitt's Wimbledon dream began to unravel after only 70 minutes of action. The Australian gamely saved two break points in the fifth game of the third set and would have carved out a break point lifeline in the following game had umpire Pascal Maria not over-ruled a linesman who had called a Federer forehand long.
Hewitt was playing his best tennis but was unable to prevent the tiebreak in which Federer inched towards two match points. He secured the tie and a place in the final when Hewitt netted a forehand return after 2hr 07min on court.
RESULTS (x denotes seeded player):
MEN'S SINGLES (Semi-finals): Roger Federer (SUI x1) bt Lleyton Hewitt (AUS x3) 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4).
WOMEN'S SINGLES (Semi-finals): Lindsay Davenport (USA x1) bt Amelie Mauresmo (FRA x3) 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/4), 6-4.
MEN'S DOUBLES (Semi-finals): Stephen Huss/Wesley Moodie (AUS/RSA) bt Jonas Bjorkman/Max Mirnyi (SWE/BLR x1) 2-6, 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4); Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan (USA/USA x2) bt Wayne Black/Kevin Ullyett (ZIM/ZIM x4) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
MIXED DOUBLES (Quarter-finals): Mahesh Bhupathi/Mary Pierce (IND/FRA) bt Olivier Rochus/Kim Clijsters (BEL/BEL x12) 6-1, 7-5.
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