Defending Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic and six-time winner Roger Federer will meet in the last four after both came through quarterfinal matches with comfortable straight sets victories Wednesday.

Federer was at his imperious best as he crushed Russian Mikhail Youzhny 6-1 6-2 6-2 with Djokovic later joining him in the semifinals after dispatching Germany's Florian Mayer 6-4 6-1 6-4.

Britain's home hope Andy Murray will play Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France in the other semifinal after both won later four set matches.

World number one Djokovic was reaching this stage of a Grand Slam for the ninth successive time, with only Federer, Rod Laver and Ivan Lendl surpassing that record.

He recovered from a slow start, dropping his opening service game, to overpower Mayer, helped by a 20-minute rain delay out on Court One.

When he returned he broke for a second time to take the opening set and two further breaks saw him with a two set lead.

The third set followed a similar pattern as the 25-year-old Serbian produced a string of winners and he took a 5-4 lead before serving out for victory.

Djokovic has beaten Federer in their last three meetings, but the Swiss maestro was even more impressive in seeing off Youzhny on Centre Court, never allowing his opponent the chance to get a foothold in the match.

Asked about the prospect of facing Djokovic, the 30-year-old Federer told BBC Sport that he would "love to play Novak."

He went on: "I don't think I've played him here at Wimbledon so that'd be a first and a nice match hopefully."

Djokovic is fully aware of the challenge posed by 16-time Grand Slam champion Federer.

"He is a great champion and has been so dominant and consistent at the Grand Slams. He is the ultimate challenge on grass courts."

Djokovic is bidding to become the first man since Federer in 2007 to retain the Wimbledon title and add to his Australian Open success earlier this year.

Home hope Murray kept fans on Centre Court on tenterhooks for nearly four hours before he got past David Ferrer of Spain, the seventh seed.

Ferrer took a set lead and was a break up in the second before Scot Murray established a toehold in the match.

He trailed 5-2 in the second set tiebreaker before hitting back to level and moved ahead when he took the third set.

A brief rain delay halted play at 5-5 in the fourth set before fourth seed Murray returned to win the match 6-7 7-6 6-4 7-6.

It will be his fourth Wimbledon straight semifinal, bidding to become the first British player to win a Grand Slam since Fred Perry in 1936.

Tsonga will provide stiff opposition but he was extended by German Philipp Kohlschreiber in their clash on Court One.

After dropping the second set, Tsonga, who beat Federer in the quarterfinals last year, emeged a 7-6 4-6 7-6 6-2 winner.