When the second semi-final of the Aegon Championships moved from the dark of Saturday night into the light of Sunday morning, Andy Murray finished the job in style, beating Viktor Troicki 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) in a split hour and 38 minutes to book a place in the afternoon’s final against Kevin Anderson.
“I’ll just go and do my physio, stretch out and get myself ready for the final,” Murray said. “I look forward to the challenge.”
They resumed at 3-3 and break point to the Scot, which he duly took before engaging in a thoroughly enjoyable warm-up for the main entertainment of the day. There was a steady flow of highlights to entertain the crowd, although a smattering of empty seats gave it a carnival air. Perhaps some Queen’s patrons had slept in after the anti-austerity march the day before.
However, they would all but fill the 7,200 capacity Centre Court by noon and were rewarded with a fine contest.
Murray had to hurdle a courtside box chasing down a drop shot in the second point of the first game in the second set, ending up about 10 feet from his opponent – who won the point.
But Murray was still bossing most of the exchanges in a contest of high skill at good pace. An exquisite Murray lob turned and bamboozled Troicki in the next game, as did a blistering cross court forehand as the Scot worked his way towards another break point.
If there was anything wrong with Troicki’s left shoulder after a heavy fall on Saturday night, his right shoulder was in perfect working order, consistently pounding down serves at more than 130mph, and he held through two deuce points despite a couple of marginal calls against him.
Murray has often said he is not “a morning person” but the 11am start did not seem to catch him cold and he moved and hit fluently from the start. However he dipped under quality pressure serving at two-all and, after saving three break points, netted a forehand to give Troicki a window.
Troicki won his 10th straight point on serve to signal a significant momentum shift then aced for 4-2, and Murray had a proper fight on his hands against an in-form opponent who has beaten Marin Cilic and John Isner recently.
The shift was temporary. Murray broke to level when Troicki butchered a schoolboy level volley, then held for 5-4, forcing Troicki to hold serve to stay in the match, which he did to love, showing some delicate touches at the net.
Murray also held to love for 6-5, and again the Serb was under pressure on his serve. He found a 10th ace and another sublime volley, and they went to a tie-break. Murray led 4-2 at the changeover, handed two points back on his serve and then was grateful for Troicki’s final shot of the match after an extended rally, a smash from the baseline into the bottom of the net.
Both players got a standing ovation – and deserved it. Troicki and Murray, not the closest of friends, embraced at the end, the loser deflated and the winner energised for the bigger test to come.
