Friday, July 7 2006 14:48 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

London: Roger Federer admits he's embarrassed by the praise and plaudits that come his way with increasing regularity as he firms up his grip on men's tennis.

After demolishing Mario Ancic 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to move two wins away from a fourth successive Wimbledon title, the world number one found himself being compared to golf great Tiger Woods.

The comparison was made by former Masters winner Fred Couples who believes that Federer and Woods have similar effects on their sports and their opponents. "Like Tiger, Roger has taken his sport on to a completely different level," Couples said.

"Like Tiger, he does amazing things that others can't do," he said.

Federer said that he has immense respect for Woods, although the two have never met.

"We almost got to meet in Shanghai last year. We were there at the same time. We were also in Dubai at the same time but our schedules are pretty packed," said the Swiss star who faces Jonas Bjorkman in Friday's semi-finals.

"I enjoy watching him. The sport of golf, being able to elevate it to somewhere where you didn't think it was possible ten years ago. The way he plays, I enjoy it very much," he said.

"So I take that as a compliment, what Fred Couples said," he said.

During the rain delays which twice interrupted the match with Ancic on Wednesday, former champion John McEnroe told television viewers that Federer could beat half the men on the tour with his eyes closed.

Federer admitted he heard what McEnroe had said and quickly became very uncomfortable. "It was just funny because it's not only you watching, it's everybody watching and listening and everything. So you just want to go somewhere," he said.

"We have a fun sort of a locker room here in Wimbledon. We get along very well. We joke around a lot. Obviously, when stuff like this comes up, I'd rather make the comment myself than somebody else does it," he said.