Last Wednesday, world number two Roger Federer extended his semifinals appearance streak to 21 with an impressive win over the 6’10 ace specialist Ivo Karlovic 6-3, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3) in the Wimbledon quarterfinals.

“Means the world to me,” said the Swiss when he was asked about his current semifinals streak. “It's hard to believe I achieved it, because … it's not just [that] I'm looking back on a few weeks or a month or a year or so, it's really way back now.” 

Federer is aiming for his sixth Wimbledon championship, which will allow him to surpass Pete Sampras in the Grand Slam record books.

“It would be writing in the history books of tennis,” commented Federer about the feat (15 Grand Slam titles) he wants to accomplish.

His next opponent will be the German Tommy Haas, who toppled Novak Djokovic 7-5, 7-6 (8-6), 4-6, 6-3 to get to the Wimbledon semis.

The 27-year-old Federer has broken the previous streaks of semifinal appearances, which were once held by Ivan Lendl and Rod Laver, who both had 10 in a row.

Federer’s peers sang him praises for extending his record.

“I mean, it's almost impossible,” said Andy Roddick about Federer’s existing record. “That's one of the most impressive stats that we'll see in tennis.”

“The consistency, right there, in the big tournaments, is ridiculous,” said world number three Andy Murray. “No one will ever match that, I don't think.”