
Marin Cilic saved a match point on his way to defeating Novak Djokovic 5-7, 7-6 (4), 6-3 on Sunday as he claimed a second Queen's Club title.
Waiting for Djokovic in the semi-finals is Jeremy Chardy, who defeated Francis Tiafoe 6-4, 6-4.
The Croatian, who last won the title in 2012, controlled the early exchanges from the baseline but missed six break point chances in the opening set, allowing Djokovic to battle back.
Hampered by an elbow injury a year ago, Djokovic hasn't earned a major title since competing his career Grand Slam by winning the 2016 French Open. "If he serves well and he's physically feeling good, for sure", said the Australian, who could not cope with Cilic's precision.
Cilic was on the verge of a third loss in the Queen's final when Djokovic held a match point in the second set.
"I felt I had to push myself today", Federer said.
Murray, 31, made his competitive return on Tuesday at Queen's, where he lost in three sets to Nick Kyrgios.
As Nick Kyrgios said before losing against him in the semi-finals, Cilic will be among the favourites at Wimbledon.
A high-level showdown full of thundering serves boiled down to two tiebreaks in which the ice-cool Cilic proved the more composed player to set up a Sunday showdown with former world No.1 Novak Djokovic.
The 12-time Grand Slam champion follows in the footsteps of Jimmy Connors (1,256), Roger Federer (1,156), Ivan Lendl (1,068), Guillermo Vilas (949), Rafael Nadal (903), John McEnroe (881), Andre Agassi (870), Ilie Nastase (846) and Stefan Edberg (801). "I was very determined to play my best, especially after a great performance in the first round and managed to deliver".
Despite spending much of the set in damage-limitation mode, Djokovic snatched the set.
"I think the key will be obviously try to return well, because that's his biggest weapon, his serve".
"I'm just very excited to be able to win in straight sets against very good players".
But Djokovic found his rhythm and converted his 6th break point to level at 4-4. Mannarino resisted a handful of break points in the eighth game, but was finally bowed, and then Djokovic broke again.
Despite missing out on a set point at 5-4, last year's Wimbledon finalist was too strong in the first-set tiebreaker and went on to win nine points in a row to secure the second set and the match. "One in the right hand and one in the left hand!"
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