“It was a thank you for the crowd”.
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The Scot, 29, overtakes Fred Perry in reaching an 11th major final – a new record for a British man. The trainer rubbed his right thigh ahead of the fifth and assessed the 17-time grand slam victor mid-game after he fell at 1-2 in the set.
Murray came from a set and a break down to beat Raonic in the final at Queen’s a fortnight ago. Raonic zoned in on his return and gained three break points, finally converting the third on a backhand passing shot to take the set. Murray also reached the 2012 final, losing to Federer.
In Sunday’s final, Raonic, the No. 6 seed, faces second-seeded Andy Murray, who dispatched 10th seed Tomas Berdych, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. He then served out the set.
Andy Murray and Tomas Berdych traded early breaks in the Wimbledon semifinals. He faced trouble at 0-30 on serve leading 4-2 but consecutive serves of 142,128,136 and 130 miles per hour ensured he held to 5-2.
Milos Raonic rallied from two sets to one down to upset Roger Federer 6-3 6-7 4-6 7-5 6-3 in the semi-finals at Wimbledon.
And he admits his experiences of gunning for glory will stand in him good stead against relative rookie Raonic, who had never previously got past a semi-final.
Federer missed this year’s French Open due to an injury.
The confident Canadian with the booming serve is looking to become the first player from his country to win a slam singles title, and showed in beating Federer in the semi-finals that he feels he belongs on the big stage.
After that break, Federer called for a trainer on the changeover and had his right thigh massaged.
Instead of heading for the baseline after getting back on his feet in the fourth game of the fifth set, Federer slumped into his chair and started to rub down both legs with a towel.
Raonic kept up the fight until a 5-all tie in the second set, but ultimately lost the set 7-6. The Swiss had won at the All-England club seven times, but his last victory was four years ago.
Second set and Roanic serving to stay in the frame, and he exchanges some heavy groundstrokes with Federer, and the Swiss is able to unload a backhand for a victor. The match appeared headed to a tiebreaker when Federer went ahead 40-0 while serving at 5-6.
Raonic won the first set 6-3. The Canadian smacked 14 aces for his first win over a top-eight player.
A breathtaking close-up rally at the net went in the Canadian’s favour and he broke for 3-1 in what proved to be the crucial breakthrough.
Roger Federer and Milos Raonic were on serve at the first changeover in the Wimbledon semifinals.
A month shy of his 35th birthday, Federer knows time is not on his side if he wants to triumph at Wimbledon again, but he was adamant his goals stretched beyond the world’s most famous Centre Court.
Murray was asked Friday about whether he’d like to see Henman Hill, the famous grassy bank at the All England Club, renamed after him.
Third-seeded Federer will be up first on Centre Court, facing No. 6 Milos Raonic.
Tenth seed Berdych tried but was never in the match as Murray mixed aggression with defence and never let his Czech opponent, a one-time Wimbledon finalist, settle or gain his rhythm.
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Murray, who won the title in 2013, is aiming to reach his 11th major final. Berdych was runner-up here in 2010 to Rafael Nadal.
