London: Seven-time champion Roger Federer demolished Milos Raonic 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to reach his ninth Wimbledon final on Friday where he will face old rival Novak Djokovic for the 35th time.

Federer will be chasing a record eighth Wimbledon title and 18th Grand Slam crown overall in what will be his 25th championship match at a major while top seed Djokovic, the champion in 2011, targets a seventh major in his third Wimbledon final in four years.

Djokovic had earlier defeated Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (9/7) as the threatened overthrow of the established order fell flat.

Federer, 32, who becomes the oldest man to make a Grand Slam final since Andre Agassi reached the 2005 Australian Open final at the age of 33, will take an 18-16 career lead over Djokovic into Sunday’s championship match.

“It was down to big concentration really,” said Federer, who will be playing in his first Grand Slam final since Wimbledon in 2012 when he went level with Pete Sampras as a seven-time winner.

“I had to focus on every point. You always say that but today especially I had to be careful on my serve and there were only a few chances when he served.

“I took those chances and I’m unbelievably happy. I’ve played some great tennis this week, under pressure at times as well.”

Federer added he was delighted to have made the final 12 months after suffering a second round exit at the hands of Sergiy Stakhovsky.

“I didn’t play well last year here where I expect so much of myself, so I was happy to get through the first rounds and then play better in the second week. I’m so happy I got it done.”

Federer has beaten Djokovic in two out of three meetings in 2014 and was looking forward to renewing their rivalry which stretches back to 2006.

“Novak and myself always play good matches. We’ve played a lot in the last six months. It’s gone back and forth a bit,” he said.

“He is a great champion and is used to these occasions. He’s got the trophy here in the past and knows how it’s done.

“I know I don’t have 10 years left, so I’m going to try and enjoy it as much as I can. That I get another chance to go through these kinds of emotions is great.”

Earlier, Djokovic moved a step closer to his second Wimbledon title as the top seed booked his third appearance in the final with a gritty 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (9/7) victory over Grigor Dimitrov on Friday.

Djokovic, who won the Wimbledon title in 2011, rarely hit peak form in a patchy semi-final on Centre Court, but showed all his battling qualities to overcome the Bulgarian 11th seed in a three hour and two minute war of attrition.

World number two Djokovic will reclaim top spot in the rankings from Rafael Nadal for the first time since September 2013 if he lifts the trophy in his third Wimbledon final in four years on Sunday.

“I thought I started well, but once again I allowed my opponent to get back into it,” Djokovic said.

“The fourth set could have gone either way but overall I’m happy to be in another Wimbledon final.

“It’s the semi-finals of Wimbledon playing against the future star. He was fighting and playing some great shots, so it was a tough match and it’s a good win for me definitely.”

Djokovic has been beaten in five of his last six Grand Slam finals, with his last major triumph coming at the 2013 Australian Open, and he admitted he is desperate to end that frustrating run this weekend.

“I’m looking forward to another championship match, especially considering I have lost the last couple of finals,” he said.

“I will have to be at my best. It’s a big challenge. It’s the Wimbledon final, the biggest event we have in the sport, and I’m looking forward to competing in it.”

After his sensational quarter-final victory over defending champion Murray, this inconsistent display was a disappointing way for Dimitrov to end his best run at a Grand Slam.

But the 23-year-old is clearly on the rise and will move into the top 10 for the first time next week.

There was little to separate them for much of the match, with Djokovic edging the first set after a poor Dimitrov service game at 2-2.

Djokovic broke for a 2-1 lead in the second set, but still looked strangely tense and a sloppy backhand into the net gifted Dimitrov a break back in the sixth game.

With girlfriend Maria Sharapova cheering him on from the players’ box, Dimitrov began to unfurl some sublime winners and he broke again to earn a 5-3 lead before serving out the set.

The tension and errors remained high, with both players struggling to keep their footing on the dusty, sun-baked court.

After coming from behind to defeat Marin Cilic in the previous round, Djokovic was battle-hardened and stepped up his level to win the third set tiebreaker in flawless fashion.

Dimitrov appeared to have surrendered in the third game of the fourth set when three successive double faults and a careless forehand put Djokovic 2-1 ahead.

But Djokovic gave Dimitrov renewed hope when he dropped his own serve in the next game.

Still looking unhappy with the slippery surface, Djokovic had to save three break points at 3-3 and a set point at 4-5 before taking an angry swipe at the grass.

Dimitrov took it to a tiebreaker and worked his way into 6-3 lead, but Djokovic saved all three set points to break Dimitrov’s resistance at last and, after squandering one match point with an ill-advised rush to the net, he converted the second to seal a gruelling triumph.