Watch: Federer On Comeback Confidence

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Watch: Federer On Comeback Confidence

Roger Federer says he's invigorated rather than exhausted by his epic comeback conquest of Marin Cilic.

Federer fought off three match points in the fourth set, rallying from a two-set deficit for the 10th time in his career with a rousing 6-7 (4), 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (9), 6-3, victory to advance to his 11th Wimbledon semifinal.

Watch: Federer Fights Off Three Match Points To Reach 11th Wimbledon Semifinal

The seven-time Wimbledon champion says the five-set test will empower him for his semifinal against Milos Raonic. Federer has won nine of 11 meetings with the seventh-ranked Raonic.

"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. "Can your shoulder, your back, your legs, can they sustain 3 hours 17 of just hitting big serves, running, being explosive. Can it handle it.

That's 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, other than I just wasn't getting a read on his game really in the beginning. That gives me I think a lot of confidence moving forward from here. Yeah, so I feel like I've clearly got a chance in the semis, even after a match like this."

It was Federer's first five-set match since he roared back from two sets down to top Gael Monfils in the 2014 US Open quarterfinals.

Rallying from triple break point down at 3-all in the third set today, Federer recalled another of his memorable comebacks when he fought from a two-set hole to defeat against Tommy Haas and reach the 2009 Roland Garros quarterfinals. Federer went on to win his lone French Open title after that comeback.

"I thought of the Tommy Haas match after I saved those breakpoints, went up 4‑3, I think," Federer said. "I thought of the Tommy match from the French when I was saving breakpoints there, as well. I think that was four, three breakpoints, something similar.

"So, yeah, I did believe in that moment, thought about it at that moment for that moment, but also for the tournament. Not only do I want to win this match, but I want to go further. It's not a fake belief, it's a real belief that you need to have in those moments. Was there, which is great news for me."

Photo credit: IANS

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