Read Kevin Mitchell’s full report:
Well, that’s all from Andy Murray and that’s all from me. The world No2 and Wimbledon favourite has got it done in time to catch the second half of the football, which I assume was the plan all along. Thanks for reading. Bye.
Andy Murray speaks.
It’s a tough match. The end of that fourth set was really tough. To lose that 6-4 was hard. I just tried to use all of my energy at the beginning of the fifth set to try and get myself up and get the crowd pumped up. Tsonga’s a pretty good player. He’s not bad. He’s one of the best grass court players in the world. He came up with some great shorts. Credit to him for fighting his way back into the match because that first set was a tough one to lose. It was important to break at some stage. There’s no tie-break in the fifth so you have to get it at some point if you want to win. [Berdych] has been to the final here, he’s beaten Djokovic and Federer, so he’s very good. He’ll be feeling comfortable on the court.”
“The Wales v Portugal match is being describes as ‘tactical’, so the tennis followed by half-time highlights looks like the best choice,” says Andy Gordon.
Andy Murray wins 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 4-6, 6-1!
Murray’s almost there when Tsonga misfires with two forehands. It’s 30-0. Murray has three match points when he puts a backhand volley away. He only needs one, walloping an ace out wide, before embracing with his friend at the net. Why couldn’t he do that 90 minutes ago? Still, what a match. Murray is through to another Wimbledon semi-final and he’ll play Tomas Berdych on Friday.
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Fifth set: Murray 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 4-6, 5-1 Tsonga* (*denotes server): Spare a thought for me. “Yes, this shouldn’t take too long, I should be able to have dinner with your family, looking forward to it.” Spare a thought for me. Thanks, Andy. Thanks a million. Tsonga is serving to stay in the match now. He begins with a disguised drop shot winner; even Murray’s not picking that one up. Nor is he laying a finger on two successive aces from Tsonga, who holds to love when Murray knocks a backhand long. Murray will serve for the match.
Fifth set: Murray* 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 4-6, 5-0 Tsonga (*denotes server): Two breaks up, Murray’s serving with new balls now. He likes them. Tsonga despises them. His head’s gone. At 30-0, he contrives to spank a simple smash past the baseline, driven to distraction by the whirring Murray, who holds to love with an ace. What can possibly go wrong now? What kind of deranged idiot asks that question?
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Fifth set: Murray 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 4-6, 4-0 Tsonga* (*denotes server): The first two points are shared as Tsonga urghs a forehand into the net. It’s 30-15 after Murray nets, though, 40-15 when he totally mishits a forehand. Yet it goes to deuce. Murrray forces an error with a good return for 40-30 before Tsonga messes up an easy volley. Murray has a break point when Tsonga scampers and scoops a backhand wide. He takes it. Tsonga nets a forehand!
Fifth set: Murray* 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 4-6, 3-0 Tsonga (*denotes server): In a case of stating the bleeding obvious, allow me to point out that Murray really needs to hold here if he’s going to start draining the belief out of Tsonga. Yet he pulls a backhand wide on the first point. It’s not what he needs. Still, 0-15 becomes 15-all as Murray punches another of those high volleys away. The game goes to 30-all. Tsonga’s far from done yet. Murray moves into a 40-30 lead, though, and holds when Tsonga slaps a forehand return into the net.
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Fifth set: Murray 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 4-6, 2-0 Tsonga* (*denotes server): Murray shows what he’s made of on the first point, leaping into a smash as Tsonga tries a lob. Tsonga’s there. But Murray just about does enough to win a superb rally for a 0-15 lead. Tsonga responds with a forehand winner for 15-all, his 16th of the match. Yet then it lets him down, the ball flying long to make it 15-30. The game goes to 30-all. Another powerful serve from Tsonga. But Murray earns a break point, arrowing a precise backhand down the line for 30-40. And Murray takes it! He crashes a backhand return from left to right, speeds forward and tears a forehand volley into the opposite corner!
Fifth set: Murray* 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 4-6, 1-0 Tsonga (*denotes server): Murray’s hopes of winning a second Wimbledon title are firmly in the balance now. And doesn’t he know it. “Let’s go, come on,” he cries after winning the first point of the fifth set. “Come on!” he barks after winning the second. But Tsonga wins the next two points. He’s on a roll. Murray’s in a hole. He nets a simple forehand to give up a break point. He’s all over the place. Murray saves it, though, Tsonga weakly netting a backhand slice. An ace earns Murray a game point but Tsonga is playing out of his skin, rapping a forehand down the line to bring it back to deuce. But Murray grits his teeth and holds with a cute volley.
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Jo-Wilfried Tsonga wins the fourth set 6-4 to level the match!
Serving to level the match, Tsonga makes it 15-0 when Murray misses a forehand return. It’s 30-0 when Tsonga finds the line with a forehand. Murray’s arguing with the umpire again, this time about the speed with which they’re meant to make challenges. He uses some of that rage to win the next point with a backhand. But Tsonga’s got two break points when Murray’s running forehand hits the top of the net and is diverted off course. He’s snarling so much now. Much good it does. They’re going into a fifth set. Murray nets a forehand. We could be about to witness one of the worst defeats of his career. He needs to regroup quickly. He’s just lost four straight games. He was a break up. He was two sets up. Novak Djokovic is out.
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Fourth set: Murray* 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 4-5 Tsonga (*denotes server): Tsonga wins the first point with a gorgeous forehand from right to left. He must be feeling good after that hold. Murray less so. But Murray needs to forget about it, else the fourth set will surely be gone too. At 30-15, Tsonga comes up with a delicious backhand pass. He really fancies this now. The game goes to deuce, Murray duffing a drop shot, and Tsonga snaffles a break point with a looping forehand down the line. Murray aims a forehand into the right corner and charges to the net. But Tsonga’s backhand is singing now and he breaks thanks to a pearler down the line. Murray’s head is a mess. He’s lost three games in a row and he’s in the process of chucking this match – this grand slam – in the bin. Tsonga will serve to force a fifth set. Incredible.
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Fourth set: Murray 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 4-4 Tsonga* (*denotes server): Kim’s doing some supportive clapping. She’s got her serious face on. It doesn’t stop Murray from sending a backhand long. But Murray’s bouncing a little after Tsonga slices long for 15-all. Then when Tsonga puts too much oomph into a forehand, making it 15-30. Yet Tsonga frustrates him with a boulder of a forehand down the line for 30-all. Soon it’s 40-30. Murray’s yelping. Lendl’s unflinching. Tsonga blinks, chopping a volley into the net for deuce. Murray perks up. He’s got a break point when a forehand forces Tsonga to volley long. Murray’s jigging up and down on the spot. Tsonga clips a backhand winner down the line for deuce. Oh my. His weaker side and he comes up with that now. Yet Murray has another chance, aiming a backhand from left to right, Tsonga skipping into a volley and knocking into the net. This is an immense struggle now and Tsonga enjoys a slice of luck when a forehand clips the top of the net and Murray nets a backhand! Is it going to be one of those days? Perhaps not. Murray carves out a third break point with a nonchalant forehand pass down the line. Again, though, a backhand down the line from Tsonga does the job. Murray’s arguing with the umpire about the crowd noise now. Tsonga crashes an ace down the middle and holds when Murray sends a forehand wide. What heart and fight from Tsonga! And a fair bit of quality too.
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Fourth set: Murray* 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 4-3 Tsonga (*denotes server): Tsonga’s not going away with a fight, though, and a storming forehand down the line allows him to seize control of the opening rally and win the first point. Soon it’s 0-30, another big forehand from Tsonga to hot for Murray to handle. He’s determined to make a seven-course meal out of this, isn’t he? Murray thinks he’s made it 15-30 with a backhand winner down the line but Tsonga challenges - it was comfortably long. Here com three break points. Tsonga misses the first, hooking a backhand wide, bellowing. Murray saves the second with an ace. Another one would do nicely. He doesn’t get one - but he does come up with an outstanding second serve, spotting Tsonga creeping to the left and slicing it down the middle. Tsonga stretches a forehand into the net. It’s deuce. But Tsonga has a fourth chance when he slices brilliantly before coming to the net to finish the point, Murray in no man’s land. This has the feel of an Important Moment. It is. It’s a second serve. Tsonga cracks a forehand past Murray. There goes the break. We could be here for some time.
Fourth set: Murray 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 4-2 Tsonga* (*denotes server): Tsonga misses his forehand in what feels like a century, hoicking it past the baseline. It’s 0-30 when he nets a forehand and Murray earns three break points with a lob that Tsonga can only frame off to the left and into the crowd. Murray can’t take the first, though, netting a forehand as Tsonga serves and volleys. But the second’s in the bag! Tsonga is never comfortable with that backhand and it’s a poor shot that sails a few yards past the baseline.
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Fourth set: Murray* 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 3-2 Tsonga (*denotes server): Murray gives Tsonga a chance with a forehand drop shot but Tsonga crashes his running backhand past the baseline. A minor escape and an important one, for it’s 40-0 soon enough. Murray gives Tsonga hope by missing two forehands to make it 40-30 but an ace is enough for him to hold. The serve was called out but HawkEye was on his side.
Fourth set: Murray 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 2-2 Tsonga* (*denotes server): Tsonga gambols into a 40-0 lead thanks to two aces and a Murray miss. A third ace sees him hold to love and it doesn’t get much more conclusive than that.
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Fourth set: Murray* 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 2-1 Tsonga (*denotes server): Murray’s 0-15 down after netting an attempted forehand pass down the line. Tsonga’s overpowering him at times. But Murray refocuses to take the next two points, acing down the middle for a 30-15 lead, only for Tsonga to run around a forehand and send a tight second serve down the line for 30-all. His forehand’s a fearsome weapon again. But Murray realises that better serving’s the key, moving into a 40-30 lead and then curling an ace down the middle to hold.
Fourth set: Murray 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 1-1 Tsonga* (*denotes server): Murray’s swearing at himself after failing to get much of his racket on to a swinging serve down the middle from Tsonga, who soon leads 40-0 thanks to more thunderous forehand. Tsonga holds to 15.
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Fourth set: Murray* 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 1-0 Tsonga (*denotes server): “Come on, Andy, get serious,” is the cry from the press centre. “We’ve got deadlines here.” And Murray does indeed get serious, moving into a 40-15 lead. But then he gets silly, letting the game drift to deuce. He grabs a game point, with Tsonga tumbling heavily as he tries to reach a drop shot, but it’s back to deuce when Murray bungles a forehand. The crowd’s getting anxious. The errors are piling up for Murray, another game point coming, another game point going, Tsonga earning a break point when he gives a lame second serve the appropriate treatment with a forehand return. Yet Murray saves it when Tsonga nets a backhand return. “Come on!” he screams at his box. “Fire up now.” He holds with a stonking serve. Momentum’s a funny thing, isn’t it?
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Jo-Wilfried Tsonga wins the third set 6-3; Andy Murray leads 7-6, 6-1, 3-6!
Serving for the third set, Tsonga begins well as Murray nets a backhand return. He looks to have won the next point as well, with a curiously spinning drop shot, but Murray hares on to it and spears a forehand down the line for 15-all. It’s 30-15 when a blocked Murray return goes too long, though, and Tsonga has two set points when the world No2 nets a forehand return. He can’t take the first, however, a fine backhand return from Murray forcing him to miss a wild forehand down the line. But he does take the second, serving firmly down the middle, Murray netting a forehand. Murray’s furious with himself.
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Third set: Murray* 7-6, 6-1, 3-5 Tsonga (*denotes server): With Murray serving to stay into the third set, Tsonga unleashes a forehand from right to left and stomps into a 0-15 lead. Tsonga unwinds again, pumping a forehand away for a 15-30 lead, only to miss with another missile down the line. Murray’s fortunate to make it to 30-all. He’s become too passive. And he’s facing a set point after Tsonga deals with a poor lob contemptuously. Tsonga can’t take it, though, overcooking a forehand return to make it deuce. Murray holds when Tsonga balloons a forehand on game point. But Tsonga is about to serve for the third set.
Third set: Murray 7-6, 6-1, 2-5 Tsonga* (*denotes server): “You’ve got to be kidding!” barks Kevin Mitchell, sitting to my right, as Murray somehow whips an absurd forehand down the line when he was pressed into the right corner and stretching so low. It’s 0-15. Yet Tsonga then challenges a serve correctly, Hawkeye showing that it just clipped the line, and that rightly goes down as another ace. Murray then nets a forehand before Tsonga makes it 40-15 with his second ace of the game. Tsonga holds to 15 and he’s a game away from forcing a fourth set.
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Third set: Murray* 7-6, 6-1, 2-4 Tsonga (*denotes server): Murray locks down on his serve, crunching into a 30-0 lead, then volleying expertly on the backhand side for a 40-0 lead. That should be that as far as this game’s concerned but Tsonga makes it 40-15 with a whipcrack forehand. Yet Murray holds to 15, drop shotting to perfection.
Third set: Murray 7-6, 6-1, 1-4 Tsonga* (*denotes server): At 15-0, Tsonga telepathically reads every Murray pass and dink, eventually winning the point with a backhand down the line. At 30-15, he shows soft hands with one of those trademark volleys down by his feet and wins the point easily, only for a double-fault to make it 40-30. Then he tries another of those little half-volleys, only to underhit it, hopping in frustration as it hits the net for deuce. Murray spies a chance to break back immediately. But he must still have something in his eye. Tsonga aces and holds when Murray nets a forehand. Cancel those dinner plans. Or at least try to put the reservation back.
Third set: Murray* 7-6, 6-1, 1-3 Tsonga (*denotes server): The first two points are shared as Murray nets a backhand for 15-all. The crowd stirs, sensing that they need to gee Murray up. Maybe they’re right. Murray’s second double-fault makes it 30-all before he gives up a break point, netting a forehand. Tsonga’s breathing fire again and a scorching inside-out forehand forces Murray to send a backhand well past the baseline.
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Third set: Murray 7-6, 6-1, 1-2 Tsonga* (*denotes server): Tsonga’s roused himself a bit at the start of this set. He’s not making as many errors. Though he’s still ragged, double-faulting at 30-15, he makes it 40-30 with some serve-volley and holding with a massive ace.
Third set: Murray* 7-6, 6-1, 1-1 Tsonga (*denotes server): At 30-15, Tsonga decides he might as well let loose a little, pumping a forehand down the line off a weak Murray second serve. Yet Murray keeps him at bay, holding to 30 when Tsonga nets a forehand return.
Third set: Murray 7-6, 6-1, 0-1 Tsonga* (*denotes server): But remember, Tsonga has fought back from two sets down in a Wimbledon semi-final before, beating Roger Federer 4-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in 2011. It’s not over yet. Tsonga begins the first set with a hold to 30, winning a splendid exchange on the final point, surviving despite another exhibition of Murray’s staggering speed.
Andy Murray wins the second set to lead 7-6, 6-1!
Serving for the second set, Murray loses the first point, swinging too much into a backhand that goes wide. Murray wins the next two points but a double-fault makes it 30-all. A pinpoint ace brings up a set point, though. Tsonga challenges in vain and Murray takes it, galloping forward to punch a forehand away. He leads by two sets but he can’t relax yet. As Marin Cilic discovered earlier, a two-set lead is the most dangerous score in tennis.
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Second set: Murray 7-6, 5-1 Tsonga* (*denotes server): Tsonga knocks a wretched backhand wide to make it 30-all and he’s in danger of finding himself on the wrong end of a bagel. He knuckles down, though, skelping a forehand winner away for a 40-30 lead and holding when Murray misses a backhand return.
Second set: Murray* 7-6, 5-0 Tsonga (*denotes server): Murray is constantly targeting Tsonga’s backhand now. It’s an effective tactic. He holds to 15 and moves a game away from a two-set lead.
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Second set: Murray 7-6, 4-0 Tsonga* (*denotes server): Tsonga stems the bleeding a little, acing for a 30-0 lead. Yet the wound opens up again when he pushes one of the weirdest and worst forehands I’ve ever seen into the tramlines. A Murray backhand just went over the net and Tsonga somehow sent his forehand miles wide. The wheels are coming off here and Murray has a break point after Tsonga nets twice. Murray increases the pace and the intensity and Tsonga can’t live with him, lifting a backhand long to drop his serve again. He’s not recovered from that tie-break at all. In a way, what’s happening at the moment puts Nick Kyrgios’s performance the other day in a slightly better light.
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Second set: Murray* 7-6, 3-0 Tsonga (*denotes server): Murray zips a forehand down the line for 30-0 before walloping an ace down the middle for a 40-0 lead. Tsonga sends a forehand wide and Murray holds to love. Tsonga has won one point in the past three games.
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Second set: Murray 7-6, 2-0 Tsonga* (*denotes server): Tsonga’s level has understandably dipped at the start of this set and the signs are ominous when two errors make it 0-30, even more so when a double fault makes it 15-40. Tsonga challenges but he knows his second serve was out. Murray has two break points and he only needs one, Tsonga dragging a limp backhand wide.
Second set: Murray* 7-6, 1-0 Tsonga (*denotes server): Tsonga returns at last and the second set begins with Murray serving. He makes it 30-0 with a wide ace. Then Tsonga slips again during a rally, allowing Murray to make it 40-0 with a backhand into the left corner. Murray holds to love and clenches his fist. In the media centre, meanwhile, a mass sprint towards the press conference room. Roger Federer is about to speak his truth.
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Tsonga popped off at the end of that set. He played such wonderful tennis at times, held three set points and it still wasn’t enough. The frustration.
Andy Murray wins the first set 7-6!
First set tie-break: Murray* 12-10 Tsonga (*denotes server): Murray wins the first set with a superb backhand volley! Crikey. What a tie-break. What a brilliant end to the set.
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First set tie-break: Murray 11-10 Tsonga* (*denotes server): Murray hurtles on to a fine volley from Tsonga, whips a forehand down the line and a diving Tsonga nets his volley! Wow.
First set tie-break: Murray 10-10 Tsonga* (*denotes server): Tsonga saves the set point with an inch perfect forehand.
First set tie-break: Murray* 10-9 Tsonga (*denotes server): Tsonga nets a backhand.
First set tie-break: Murray* 9-9 Tsonga (*denotes server): Murray nets a backhand! Oh dear. This will never end.
First set tie-break: Murray 9-8 Tsonga* (*denotes server): Tsonga wheels into a forehand and nets it! Murray’s roaring.
First set tie-break: Murray 8-8 Tsonga* (*denotes server): An unbelievable crouching backhand down the line from Tsonga!
First set tie-break: Murray* 8-7 Tsonga (*denotes server): Murray earns his first set point by banging an ace out wide.
First set tie-break: Murray* 7-7 Tsonga (*denotes server): Tsonga knocks a backhand long off a second serve! This is so tense.
First set tie-break: Murray 6-7 Tsonga* (*denotes server): Tsonga earns another set point with a big serve.
First set tie-break: Murray 6-6 Tsonga* (*denotes server): Murray saves the second break point, reading a first serve before whipping a forehand past Tsonga!
First set tie-break: Murray* 5-6 Tsonga (*denotes server): Murray saves the first with an ace out wide.
First set tie-break: Murray* 4-6 Tsonga (*denotes server): A stunning rally - that Murray should win - ends with Tsonga reading a forehand down the line and earning two set points with a deft backhand volley!
First set tie-break: Murray 4-5 Tsonga* (*denotes server): Tsonga nets a forehand with Murray seemingly on the run!
First set tie-break: Murray 3-5 Tsonga* (*denotes server): A brilliant volley from Tsonga, Murray gets there, but Tsonga hooks a forehand back into the open court!
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First set tie-break: Murray* 3-4 Tsonga (*denotes server): Tsonga batters a forehand away and Murray nets a backhand!
First set tie-break: Murray* 3-3 Tsonga (*denotes server): A swerving second serve from Murray totally confuses Tsonga, who’s furious with himself.
First set tie-break: Murray 2-3 Tsonga* (*denotes server): Tsonga dominates again, finishing the point with a smash.
First set tie-break: Murray 2-2 Tsonga* (*denotes server): Tsonga bang a backhand winner down the line.
First set tie-break: Murray* 2-1 Tsonga (*denotes server): Murray draws an error from Tsonga with a forehand.
First set tie-break: Murray* 1-1 Tsonga (*denotes server): As the match passes the hour mark, Tsonga hits back as Murray fails to do enough with a forehand lob.
First set tie-break: Murray 1-0 Tsonga* (*denotes server): Tsonga double-faults!
First set: Murray* 6-6 Tsonga (*denotes server): Serving to force a tie-break, Murray holds to love easily.
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First set: Murray 5-6 Tsonga* (*denotes server): Tsonga’s utterly focused right now, winning the first point with a smash. Yet Murray is trying to regain his level, too, and he wins the next point, wearing Tsonga down in a lengthy rally. It’s 15-all. Yet Tsonga then completely goes to sleep, inexplicably leaving a Murray backhand that drops well inside the baseline. He would have had an easy volley there and watched the ball’s dipping trajectory with a deepening sense of horror. Yet he shakes his head clear quite magnificently, three heatseeker serves getting him out of a potential hole. Murray has to hold again.
First set: Murray* 5-5 Tsonga (*denotes server): Murray begins by dragging a backhand wide, unable to sort out his feet, and that’s 0-15. He needs to get his head back in the game here! He seems to have got his rhythm back, though, after winning the next three points for a 40-15 lead. Tsonga then pings a backhand pass down the line for a 40-30 lead but Murray holds when the Frenchman pulls a forehand wide.
First set: Murray 4-5 Tsonga* (*denotes server): Murray tries another one of those forehand lobs but Tsonga’s not about to be fooled again, reading it and winning the first point with a smash. Tsonga’s taken charge of this now and he moves into a 40-15 lead, dominating the baseline exchanges. He holds to 30 when Murray nets a backhand return off a second serve. After losing three straight games, Murray will serve to stay in the first set. He’s dozed off.
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First set: Murray* 4-4 Tsonga (*denotes server): The first two points are shared in this game, with Tsonga beginning to play with more belief. But Murray makes it 30-15, rapping a low, top-spin heavy forehand from right to left; Tsonga makes it 30-all with a sweet little touch at the net. He’s feeling it. Not many players are as entertaining as the Frenchman when he’s in the mood and he’s got a break point when Murray nets a gimme of a forehand. Murray tries to save it with a drop shot but Tsonga bursts forward, stoops and knocks a stunning two-handed backhand from left to right to break back! Murray’s not playing that well.
First set: Murray 4-3 Tsonga* (*denotes server): Tsonga marches into a 30-0 lead thanks to two solid serves. It’s 30-15 after he slips near that dusty baseline, Murray wrongfooting him with a forehand down the line, but he’s looking comfortable at 40-15. Tsonga holds to 15, keeping his hopes alive in the first set. There’s a sense that both players are feeling their way into this match.
First set: Murray* 4-2 Tsonga (*denotes server): You can still spy plenty of green in the stands on Centre Court. I dread to think about the queues for the toilets. Presumably Murray and Tsonga have other things on the mind. Murray wants to consolidate the break. Tsonga wants to scrub it out. It looks like the former is going to get his wish without much of an argument, Murray moving into a 40-15 lead, but Tsonga hangs in there for deuce before earning a break point by blasting a forehand down the line and winning the point with a cute drop shot. Murray’s lost focus a little. He’s not making many first serves. Is he distracted by whatever got into his right eye earlier? If he is, it doesn’t stop him from saving the break point, charging forward after a fine first serve that neutralises Tsonga. But Murray’s having trouble getting out of this game unscathed, wasting game points with loose forehands, flinging his arms up in obvious frustration. Then he pushes a forehand into the net to give Tsonga another break point. Tsonga can’t take it, netting a slice, but he has a third chance after another blistering forehand down the line. That’s the shot. This game is now into its 10th minute. And it’s going on and on and on because Tsonga hits long off a first serve. Eventually Murray holds. “Come on!” he yelps.
“Following that epic win earlier, there might be an argument that Murray would prefer Federer to stay in - there can be a special kind of pressure when (rightly or wrongly) it’s assumed that the field is clear and the title is yours to lose,” David Hopkins says. That’s one way of looking at it, but the memory of their match last year isn’t a good one for Murray.
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First set: Murray 3-2 Tsonga* (*denotes server): Tsonga tries to serve-volley on the first point; Murray whips a forehand return from right to left for a 0-15 lead. Tsonga whistles a forehand into the right corner for 15-all. Murray then hooks a lob over him, though, for 15-30, a classic shot. Tsonga’s showing plenty of character, however, and an ace makes it 30-all. There’s a lot of cagey tennis at the moment. But Murray controls the next rally and earns another break point with a clever backhand winner for a 30-40 lead. He should take it – but he sends a tight backhand wide when he had plenty to aim for down the line. The game goes to deuce but Murray is gifted a second break point when Tsonga double faults. Another one hands Murray the early advantage. In the other quarter-final, meanwhile, Tomas Berdych leads by a set and a break against Lucas Pouille.
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First set: Murray* 2-2 Tsonga (*denotes server): Murray wins the first three points, racing into a 40-0 lead. He holds to love, with minimal stress, Tsonga returning poorly.
First set: Murray 1-2 Tsonga* (*denotes server): Tsonga whips a forehand from right to left and reads Murray’s riposte, aiming a forehand down the line, then skipping forward to put a volley away for 15-0. It’s soon 15-all, though, as Murray comes out on top in an attritional rally. The game goes to 30-all and Murray earns the first break point when Tsonga rushes a backhand past the baseline. Tsonga could do with a first serve here. He finds one, allowing him to attack with a forehand as a return drops invitingly short, and Murray nets a forehand for deuce. Tsonga then wins the next point, before Murray reaches a drop shot and knocking a forehand long. He’s rubbing his eye. He seems to have got some dust in it. It could only happen to Andy Murray.
First set: Murray* 1-1 Tsonga (*denotes server): The camera fixes on a stony faced Ivan Lendl. Or Ivan Lendl, to be precise. He won’t want to see any funny business from Murray out there. No excuses about the crowd, get on with the job. Murray does seem a little sluggish, though, and he slices a forehand into the net to make it 15-30. He’s also wasted a challenge. Yet he responds with two wicked serves to move into a 40-30 lead and he holds when Tsonga nets a backhand return.
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First set: Murray 0-1 Tsonga* (*denotes server): The match begins with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga serving. He was broken in his first game in the 2012 semi-final and you feel he can’t afford that kind of start today. He wins the first point with a smash but then double-faults to make it 15-all. Yet he wins the next two points after two misses from Murray. It’s very flat on Centre Court. There’s no atmosphere at all and rows and rows of empty seats. Muted applause greets a Tsonga ace down the middle.
The Lendl.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga appears to win the toss and he elects to serve.
The Centre Court crowd must be emotionally exhausted after that Federer thriller. So the cheers are a tad muted as Andy Murray and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga emerge. Everyone’s gone off for a well deserved breather.
At roughly 2pm, it seemed that Andy Murray would have the chance to do this without playing either Novak Djokovic or Roger Federer. A pleasing scenario. But Federer has fought back from the brink against Marin Cilic, somehow winning 6-7, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 to reach the last four. He plays Milos Raonic next and you can relive a terrific match here.
Preamble
Hello. These are strange times. This must be the first time that Andy Murray has been the overwhelming favourite to win a grand slam. The bookies say it’s his to lose and while they’ve got a few things wrong in recent weeks, they’re probably right about this one. Novak Djokovic is out. Rafael Nadal didn’t even make it here. Roger Federer ... well, he’s still pretty good actually. But Stan Wawrinka has been removed from his path. Juan Martin del Potro, too. Murray’s potential semi-final opponent is either Tomas Berdych or Lucas Pouille. He’s not dropped a set, he crushed Nick Kyrgios on Monday and today he faces player he’s beaten 12 from 15 times, twice at Wimbledon, five times on grass overall. He should win. He should win with something to spare.
Murray being Murray, though, he spies danger. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga might be the 12th seed, he might have struggled with injuries but as Murray points out, he’s one of the best grass court players in the world and these two have had plenty of close matches in the past. Murray’s the world No2 and, looking at it logically, he could easily wrap this one up in straight sets. Job done, thanks for coming, on to the semis. But that doesn’t mean it won’t be stressful. Remember Fernando Verdasco?
Play begins: soon.
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