The Associated Press

WIMBLEDON, England - Andy Roddick remembers when he was 6 or 7, at home in Florida watching Wimbledon telecasts of matches on Centre Court between Boris Becker and Stefan Edberg.

Becker and Edberg have retired, but Centre Court is still there. And today, Roddick will be, too, playing in his first Wimbledon semifinal.

"It's weird to think that there's some 9-year-old kid out there getting excited to wake up early and eat bacon and eggs and watch," Roddick said. "It's pretty cool."

Roddick and his opponent, Roger Federer of Switzerland, are youngsters long touted as future Grand Slam champions. Now each is on the verge of his first major final.

"It's a great chance for both of us," said Federer, 21.

The No. 5-seeded Roddick, 20, advanced to his second major semifinal of the year by beating unseeded Jonas Bjorkman 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 on Thursday. Federer, seeded fourth, beat No. 8 Sjeng Schalken 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.

The other semifinal will match unseeded Mark Philippoussis against No. 13 Sebastien Grosjean.

Philippoussis hit 34 aces - raising his tournament total to 153 - and rallied past Alexander Popp 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 8-6. Grosjean disappointed British fans by beating Tim Henman 7-6 (8), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Both matches took two days to complete because of rain.

Henman was trying to become the first Englishman to win Wimbledon since 1936.

"Perhaps my chances are getting less," said Henman, 28. "It won't stop me from coming back and trying."

Wimbledon on TV

Today

Men's semifinals: Sebastien Grosjean vs. Mark Philippoussis, 8 a.m., ESPN; Andy Roddick vs. Roger Federer, noon, ch. 5, 22.

Saturday

Women's final: Venus Williams vs. Serena Williams, 9 a.m., ch. 5, 22.