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[Sir Panda]

Andy Murray produced a performance of pure grit and determination, to book his place in the Wimbledon semi-finals with Rafael Nadal. The British number one teetered on the brink in the second set tie-break, but recovered well to win 6-7 7-6 6-2 6-2, and delight the partisan Centre Court crowd.

Both men started the first set with intent, Tsonga demonstrating his raw power, particularly on the forehand side. Murray was more than happy to assume the counterpuncher role on the vast majority of rallies, but he was aggressive enough to stave off the Frenchman in his own service games. With only two break point opportunities created in the entirety of the first set, it was clear that a tie-break was needed to separate them.

Murray's first serve percentage dipped, and Tsonga was more than happy to obliterate the Scot's second serve when the opportunities arose. A clinic in clutch serving and powerful groundstrokes earned Tsonga the first set, the first that Murray had dropped all tournament.

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Murray was the first man to finally break serve, and raced to a 3-0 lead in the second set. However, a tame surrender of serve allowed the French number one back into the match, and from 3-3, the pair were inseperable yet again on serve. Murray showed no real change of gameplan, but was definitely causing more problems on the Tsonga serve. Not enough however, and set number two approached a familar ending.

Murray found the elusive mini-break, but yet again capitulated and serving at 5-4, Tsonga looked odds-on to take control of the match. A horrendous error of judgement allowed Murray's return to sail by and onto the baseline, and Tsonga arrowed a forehand long to allow the home favourite into the match. Murray celebrated by fistpumping and leaping into the air, he clearly knew the importance of what he had just done.

Tsonga had been looking nervously at his hand in the latter stages of the second set, and it soon became apparent that the energy levels of the usually dynamic tenth seed, were flailing. Murray sensed this, and after a lengthy game at the beginning of the third set, Murray broke through yet again and roared ahead to take the set 6-2, much to the delight of the support team in his box.

The final set was similar in nature. Tsonga seemed to have checked out mentally, and Murray took full advantage. The fourth seed broke twice more to secure an incredibly important win, and progress to his second successive Wimbledon semi-final.

Rafael Nadal was victorious over Robin Soderling earlier in the day, and he will await the Brit in a last-four clash on Friday.

Murray can beat Nadal (1 video)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/8779463.stm#id8770000/8779400/8779463

Murray's funny water incident (1 video)

Murray calls McEnroe and Henman (1 video)

BBC Sport - Tennis - Andy Murray calls McEnroe and Henman

[tennis_girl]

Everyone's saying that if Andy's first service is good, he's got a good shot of beating Nadal. Let's hope.

Andrew, you're a speedy little thing.

[Mark]

Yep, Murray really NEEDS to have a good serve on Friday and I think there's a good chance because he'll be totally fired up for this one.

[Hazybear]

Well written Andrew and well done Andy So looking forward to Friday!!

[marika]

Glad that he won. Unfortunately, I couldn't watch the match because I was revising!

[OldScotSupport]

Found out I was writing the report in the fourth set, I'm a professional.

Good article, which was well written, Andrew. Who cares when you started writing it.

5 down, 2 to go

[robbie]

Good report Andrew....was calling Andy every name under the sun up to the 2nd tie break(believe me...iv put the hours in over the years watching Andy,so iv earned the right)....but Bloody well done Andy.....i really fancy you against Nadal.....bring it on.

[Mark]

Does anyone have at least a vague idea of what the score was when BBC showed a slowmo of Andy complaining about his drink? I want to see it again.