Murray fights back to reach semi-finals

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.

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.


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




BBC Sport - Tennis - Andy Murray calls McEnroe and Henman