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Roger Federer is taking nothing for granted in his Wimbledon quarter-final against Marin Cilic after admitting he was "blown off the court" by the Croatian the last time they met in a competitive match.
The occasion was the semi-final of the 2014 US Open when a fired-up Cilic produced one of the greatest performances of his career to secure a 6-3 6-4 6-4 victory before beating Kei Nishikori in the final at Flushing Meadows.
Federer was at his devastating best to see off Steve Johnson in straight sets on Wimbledon's Centre Court on Monday and, with Novak Djokovic eliminated from his side of the draw, many fancy the seven-time champion to at least reach the final.
But the Swiss maestro says the memories of his last meeting with Cilic mean he cannot afford to look too far ahead.
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"I practiced with him when I arrived here at Wimbledon," he said. "He was playing great. Serving, boom, forehand, serving, boom, backhand. He's very aggressive. He blew me off the court at the US Open. I know what I'm getting into.
"Everything he touched went in. I don't know. It was all right, here is a chance, boom. Maybe here is another chance, boom. That's kind of how it was for three straight sets.
"I didn't play poorly in any way. It was just all on his racquet. It was very seldom that I was blown off the court like that.
"I had some chances. But every time I had a small chance, either he served another big serve, or on the return; I don't want to say he went for broke, but it was unbelievably impressive how he finished that tournament - quarters, semis, finals. I don't think he lost a set. It was unbelievably impressive.
"But I'm happy about my game as well, that I've been able to rise now to the occasion and play a really good match against Johnson today. I think it was by far my best match. I'm confident also going to the Cilic match."
Cilic was leading his fourth-round tie with Nishikori 6-1 5-1 on Monday before his opponent withdrew with a rib injury.
And the ninth seed is hoping to replicate his performance from his last meeting with Federer.
"That was definitely one of my best matches in my career, but we haven't played since then," he said.
"That could be another good thing for me that I can just look back at that match and know what things I was doing really well.
"I definitely am playing well at the moment. I went through the draw pretty comfortably."