Roger Federer Defeats John Isner to Advance to Olympic Tennis Semifinals

Tennis star Roger Federer defeated American Olympic hopeful John Isner in the men's quarterfinals at the 2012 London Olympics on Thursday (via NBC Olympics).

Fed won in straight sets, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), to advance to the medal rounds for the first time in 12 years. 

The world's No. 1 player is into the Olympic semifinals, where he will be guaranteed at least a shot at the bronze medal. 

Although he has won a men's tennis record 17 Grand Slams during his illustrious career, Federer has never won an individual Olympic medal.

The 30-year-old finished off the podium in fourth place at the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney, but has never bettered that result. 

Federer won gold in men's doubles tennis at the 2008 Games in Beijing four years ago, but that doesn't compare to how special a gold in men's singles would be at Wimbledon this August, where he has won seven Grand Slam titles since 2003. 

Not only would Federer be winning a gold for his legacy, which would be boosted tremendously if he were to join Rafael Nadal and Andre Agassi as men's tennis stars who have won all four Grand Slams at least once and won Olympic gold, but Fed would be representing for his native Switzerland. 

For the 27-year-old Isner, he can look back on his first-ever Olympic journey with a great sense of pride knowing that he advanced past the first three rounds and challenged the world's best on a surface where he had never been past the second round.  

Federer will face Juan Martin del Potro in the semifinal.

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