4 Jul 2012

Andy Murray to face Tsonga in Wimbledon semi-final

Andy Murray reaches the Wimbledon semi-finals for the fourth year in a row with a hard-fought victory over in-form Spaniard David Ferrer.

Andy Murray to face Tsonga in Wimbledon semi-final. (Reuters)

The fourth seed looked in big trouble at a set and a break down but dug deep, saved a set point in an epic second-set tie-break and eventually came through 6-7 (7/5) 7-6 (8/6) 6-4 7-6 (7/4).

The pair, who were watched by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, are among the best returners in tennis so it was not surprising the games were close.

Murray missed a chance to break early in the second set but did well to save three break points in the seventh game. It felt like a big moment but Ferrer redoubled his efforts in the next Murray service game and this time he did break through when the Scot hit a drop shot wide.

That left the 30-year-old serving for the set but for the first time he wobbled, a series of errors allowing Murray to level at 5-5. A second tie-break followed and again it was Ferrer who took control, winning the first three points and then opening up a 5-2 lead.

Murray then fought back to draw level and then saved the first set point, this time his sometimes suspect forehand holding firm. A big serve gave the fourth seed a set point and he took it when Ferrer finally buckled and the Scot joining Centre Court in celebrating.

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However, there was still plenty of work to do, and Ferrer had the first chance of the third set when he forced two break points in the fourth game. Murray managed to stave off the threat. Another tie-break looked on the cards, but a forehand return from Murray earned him his first break point of the set in the ninth game and a chance to serve for it at 5-4.

He took it, a backhand proving too good even for Ferrer’s remarkable defences, and he did not allow his opponent a sniff of a break back as he clinched the set with an ace. The fourth set took on a similar pattern, with Murray saving break points in the eighth game – making it 10 saved from 12 faced – before Ferrer did the same.

There was a brief rain delay shortly before their third tie-break, and this time Murray seized his moment, setting up match point with a forehand down the line and then sealing one of his best grand slam victories with his 18th ace after eight minutes short of four hours.

On Friday Murray plays his friend Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga as he bids to become the first British man since Bunny Austin in 1938 to reach the Wimbledon singles final.