What drama, what tension, what brilliance.
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Andy Murray’s quest for a second Wimbledon title remains on track after he survived a stern and gruelling test of his credentials in a memorable quarter-final meeting with former Davis Cup opponent Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Wednesday evening (6 July). “It had been a long day for them with some long matches”.
“Then knowing that I had a week in between, if I get through the first week at Wimbledon, who knows”. The crowd were unbelievable today.
Berdych, whose slow start suggested he was feeling the effects of close to 11-and-a-half hours on court in his four previous matches, threatened to fritter away a 5-1 lead in the first-set tiebreak before a deep approach shot set him up for a clean forehand victor. Both players ran across court today to make shots, each rushing the net and slicing shots across.
Murray, however, has been in these situations before.
Three years have now passed since Murray last won a Grand Slam, and he badly wants another one. Murray was forced to save another break point in the first game of the deciding set and was then seen to mouth to his box: “No way I’m going to lose this match”.
Murray was getting frustrated at the turn around in Tsonga’s game.
It was wonderful entertainment for the crowd.
“Now he becomes to be more aggressive, way more creative on the court”.
The Frenchman had the momentum but Murray was aiming to reach his seventh Wimbledon semi-final and he rediscovered his vigor to race into a unassailable lead to take the final set. I expect to play my best tennis at these events and put a large amount of pressure on myself to so, which I don’t think people always appreciate. It was also his 51st match victory at Wimbledon, which equals Bjorn Borg’s total.
That record came under serious scrutiny in the opening set.
“He had to hold on to serve and keep in front because he had not been behind in the whole match”.
He has now made it to six Grand Slam semi-finals, losing in four of his previous five appearances.
Raonic produced an irresistible display of classic grasscourt tennis to overcome giant-killer Sam Querrey 6-4, 7-5, 5-7, 6-4. And though he was gifted a break point when Tsonga double-faulted, he was broken back soon after.
Tsonga’s disappointment was evident in the second set. That was part of a four-game run that allowed him to force a final set.
The second set went by in a flash with Murray easing through in 26 minutes, a whole 50 minutes quicker than the marathon opener.
The Frenchman started the second set eager and focused. “I came back strong on the third and fourth, but I didn’t play well in the fifth”.
Murray’s fiancée – now wife – Kim Sears was caught on camera apparently swearing at the Berdych team following a Murray break of serve, betraying the animosity between the two camps. After winning his first 14 sets here, Murray finally was on the losing end. The world No 2 responded superbly. Agonising as Murray’s eventual victory was to watch, things are likely to get tighter and tenser still for him and his fans in the days ahead.
Murray, on the other hand, is a defensive player who likes to slowly work his opponents over if they are up to his level. But I fought, I tried, I believed. “I’m hoping that helps me in the next couple of rounds”. You’re really deep into the tournament. It can help to go through games and stages in matches that are challenging. You know, maybe upsets potentially.
Their head-to-head record is 8-6 in favour of Murray, with Berdych’s last win coming in the Cincinnati Masters three years ago.
“I had to find my rhythm and when I did in the first set tie-break I felt much better. They got two pretty good matches, as well, I think”.
“Obviously he’s a big guy who serves well”. He’s playing closer to the baseline, dictating a lot of the points. He’s a powerful guy. “There’s a lot more hopes left than me”.
The Brit will contest a 20th grand slam semi-final, one more than Stefan Edberg and John McEnroe, when he faces Czech 10th seed Tomas Berdych.
But 2013 Wimbledon champion Murray has only ever lost once having won the first two sets and, after telling his box he was not going to lose the thriller, he delivered superbly to set up a last-four clash with Tomas Berdych.
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If the plot goes to script, the seven-time champion Federer awaits in Sunday’s final, although Milos Raonic might have something to say about that in Friday’s other semi-final.
