What drama, what tension, what brilliance.
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Federer said: “It was an emotional win, always when you come back from two sets to love, but because of the season that I’ve had, it’s wonderful”. “It had been a long day for them with some long matches”.
“It’s nice that the players I’m playing against say I’m playing more aggressive because everyone’s only said I’ve played aggressive when Ivan has been coaching me”. The crowd were unbelievable today.
Murray’s defence should be able to wear down Tsonga, even if it takes him five sets.
Murray, however, has been in these situations before. “I came back strong on the third and fourth, but I didn’t play well in the fifth”.
Andy Murray needed five sets to see off Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and set up a Wimbledon semi-final showdown against Tomas Berdych.
In the absence of Djokovic, who lost in the third round to America’s Sam Querrey, many believe that this is Murray’s title to lose. As usual, Old Stoneface sat there expressionless.
After staring at the brink of elimination in the first one-and-a-half hours against Murray, he and the world number two boil down the quarterfinal match to one final frame. Murray then survived a marathon sixth game and break points to consolidate, but Tsonga was just getting into his stride, and did level for 4-4. The win gave him 51 at Wimbledon, tying the great Bjorn Borg. Tsonga served it out for 4-6 and levelled at two sets all.
The tie-break produced some superb tennis as both men saved three set points before Murray won it 12-10. He also got the only break points of the set, breaking Tsonga twice in his two attempts.
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 Frenchman started the second set eager and focused.
It took 76 minutes to take a tough first set.
Great Britain’s Andy Murray celebrates during his match against France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga July 7, 2016. The world No 2 responded superbly. It was nothing more than a meaningless hold, because Murray quickly served out the proceedings to clinch victory after three hours and 53 minutes.
Murray said afterwards that the crowd’s support had spurred him on.
The man himself is unperturbed by the idea of any extra weight on his shoulders.’I haven’t noticed any real difference to be honest, ‘ said the 29-year-old.
“It was a tough match. I hoped one day I would have the chance to use the experience from my Wimbledon final and I’m going to go for it again”.
I was definitely tested a lot today.
“Next thing you know, I was serving for the match in the fifth”.
Murray kept a cool head and claimed the last set 6-1 to move into the semifinals.
Murray is bidding to win his second Wimbledon crown having first won the trophy three years ago.
“You saw it a little bit with other matches, maybe upsets potentially”. He hits very hard, very flat, with a big serve. He’s a powerful guy.
“I think Berdych doesn’t like sliced backhands a lot”. He has reached the last four in each of tennis’ four majors, and his run to the Wimbledon final in 2010 – where he lost in straight sets to Rafael Nadal after beating Roger Federer in the quarter-finals – demonstrates just what a formidable opponent he is on grass.
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As ever with Federer it was the manner of his win and also the hinterland from which he came with his forced missing of the French Open through injury.
