"Just having your name on the trophy would be a dream come true," said the Australian after his comprehensive 7-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean in the semi-finals on Friday.

"A lot of tennis players, when they are kids, dream of winning Wimbledon. The history of this tournament is great and hopefully I'll have a chance to be part of it.

"Obviously it's been very tough. I've been through a lot but everything in life happens for a reason. I've always said that so everything's been worthwhile."

The 26-year-old may be hoping for a fairytale, but he has learned not to take what the medical profession tell him at face value.

Only two years ago, Philippoussis was told by doctors in New York that he would never play top class tennis again after undergoing a third operation on his left knee in the space of 14 months.

Confined to a wheelchair for two months, the big-serving Australian took inspiration from his father's battle with cancer.

Nick Philippoussis had cancer three times and six years ago was told he had six months to live. But on Friday he was there in the Centre Court players' box watching his son, who he now coaches.

"My father said 'don't listen to what they said, some doctors can be very negative'," Philippoussis said on Thursday after his quarter-final victory over Alexander Popp.

His father's recovery also gave him a new perspective on life.

"My family is number one priority in my life and not my tennis. Obviously when everyone in your family is healthy, that's the biggest blessing you could have," he said.

LOST FINAL

Philippoussis lost his only previous grand slam final to compatriot Pat Rafter at the 1998 U.S. Open and was trying not to get too carried away at reaching to his first final at the All England Club.

"I've still got one match to play so nothing to get excited about," he said. "I'm just thinking about getting my body ready and coming up for the match and playing a good match.

"I was extremely nervous in my first final and I was playing a countryman who had won it the year before.

"It was my first time so it was a totally new experience for me. But I can take some experience away from that and I'm just going to play the way I've been playing."

Federer leads their head-to-head 3-2. Their most recent match was in Hamburg in May, but the pair have never met before on grass.

"Last time we played in Hamburg couple of months ago and I beat him there but this is grass, totally different surface and a different day," Philippoussis, now ranked 48th in the world, said.

"I know how he plays and he knows how I play but I don't care who's on the other side of the net, I'm just gonna play my game and that's the only thing to it."

The tale of a lowly-ranked big-server returning from injury to reach the Wimbledon final may sound familiar. It was only two years ago that Goran Ivanisevic, a 125th-ranked wildcard with the dodgiest shoulder in tennis, reached the final.

There was a happy ending for the Croatian, who ended up lifting the trophy.