Milos Raonic vs Roger Federer in Wimbledon 2014 semi-finals

Young gun vs old guard

LONDON — If Milos Raonic beats the great Roger Federer on Friday and reaches the Wimbledon men’s singles final, the name of Lieutenant Robert (Bobby) Powell will forevermore be banished back to the dusty archives from whence he emerged two days ago when the 23-year-old Canadian made the semi-finals.

Powell, a lawyer from Victoria, B.C., who played on and captained Canada’s first Davis Cup squad back in 1913, reached the final eight at the All-England Lawn Tennis Club three times: in 1908, 1910 and 1912.

In 1908, he reached the semi-finals. He never reached the final.

During a season that has been full of history-making Canadian tennis accomplishments, Raonic is poised to add another chapter along with countrywoman Eugenie Bouchard, who is in Saturday’s women’s final.

But Raonic’s task is, to say the least, easier said than done