Watch: Berdych on Keys to Beating Federer

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Watch: Berdych on Keys to Beating Federer

Roger Federer hit the high notes stifling Steve Johnson to reach his record-tying 14th Wimbledon quarterfinal.

Continuing his quest for a record eighth Wimbledon crown, Federer faces Marin Cilic, who swept the Swiss in the 2014 US Open semifinals en route to winning the Flushing Meadows major.

Cilic overwhelmed Federer on the bustling New York City hard courts, but how exactly does a player mute the maestro on the grass of Wimbledon?

Tomas Berdych, who was ranked No. 13 when he toppled Federer in the 2010 Wimbledon quarterfinals, says playing with aggression to thwart Federer's all-court creativity is a secret to success.

"Speaking about myself, what I remember, I was playing very, very aggressive, not giving him any time at all that he can create anything," Berdych told the media after completing his five-set victory over compatriot Jiri Vesely to reach the quarterfinals for the fourth time. "I was the one trying to push him on the back foot. That's definitely the situation that he's not really used to. That's what he doesn't like.

"When you get the opponent to the situation that he's not really feeling comfortable, that's, I would say, half of the success. That doesn't mean he's going to give you the match. But that was the plan, that was the way, and it works pretty well."

Only nine men have beaten Federer at SW19: Novak Djokovic, Sergiy Stakhovsky, Rafael Nadal, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Mario Ancic, Tim Henman, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Jiri Novak and Berdych.

Berdych says beating Federer on the faster grass track requires red-lining your game to "the edge of your tennis abilities."

"Obviously your game has to be on the very high level, I would say," Berdych said. "Almost be on the line that you are able to play. You have to really play on the edge of your tennis abilities, playing very aggressive, I have to say. I mean, every player is different. So, you know, each style requires something else."

Cilic will play Federer for the first time since sweeping their 2014 US Open semifinal and says he will try to recall the first-strike tennis he played in New York.

"I remember that I was playing great at the US Open. I served really well," Cilic said. "Most of the shots that I was going for, you know, they were pretty aggressive. You know, I was not definitely letting him to control as much as possible. You know, that's I guess what is always the key for me against the best players."

Photo credit: Getty

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