Thoughts turn to Sunday, then. Novak Djokovic. Gone! Roger Federer. Vanquished! And then there were two. Andy Murray and Milos Raonic. It promises to be spectacular. Thanks for reading this evening. Bye!
Andy Murray speaks! “I’m obviously very happy. The middle of the second set was key, he obviously had a couple of chances to break. The older you get you never know how many chances you’re going to get to play in grand slam finals so you want to make the most of your opportunities. I mean you learn from those matches, having had those experiences in the past, playing against some of the best players of all time. I need to play a great match on Sunday if I want to win.”
He’s asked about facing Raonic, who he beat in the Queen’s final. “I was down a set and a break. He played a very good match against Roger today, a very tough, entertaining match.”
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ANDY MURRAY IS IN THE WIMBLEDON FINAL! HE BEATS TOMAS BERDYCH 6-3, 6-3, 6-3!
Berdych isn’t quite done yet. He cracks a backhand return from right to left and Murray can only net a forehand for 0-15. Murray responds with a pinpoint ace down the middle, though, his seventh of the match. Then he goes back behind Berdych with a backhand to make it 30-15, displaying his keen tennis mind. Murray gets a bit too excited, though, smashing a forehand wide for 30-all, but he’s got his first match point when Berdych nets a backhand. It’s Berdych’s 30th unforced error. Murray’s serve is good but Berdych loops it back. Murray waits and then whirls a huge forehand back into the left corner. Berdych plunges down to reach it ... but the ball drops out of the sky too soon for the Czech and it hits the net with Murray in close attendance! That’s it! Andy Murray has reached his third Wimbledon final after a brutal destruction of Tomas Berdych!
Third set: Murray 6-3, 6-3, 5-3 Berdych* (*denotes server): Serving to keep Murray waiting, Berdych holds to 15. Murray will have to serve for his place in the final. Can he do in time for newspaper deadlines? That’s the most important thing.
Third set: Murray* 6-3, 6-3, 5-2 Berdych (*denotes server): Berdych takes a 0-15 lead. It doesn’t matter. Murray is too good. He’s too focused. He wants it too much. A splendid drop shot makes it 30-15. He whips a forehand away for 40-15. He holds when Berdych nets a forehand return. He’s a game away from the final.
Third set: Murray 6-3, 6-3, 4-2 Berdych* (*denotes server): Berdych keeps his head above water, holding to love. It’s not over yet.
Third set: Murray* 6-3, 6-3, 4-1 Berdych (*denotes server): Murray holds to 30, reaching a Berdych drop volley and lobbing him wondrously. The only false step is a double fault at 40-30. Murray could hardly have imagined it would be this simple.
Third set: Murray 6-3, 6-3, 3-1 Berdych* (*denotes server): Murray leads 0-30 after pummelling a backhand down the line, with Berdych an increasingly forlorn figure. He’s soon in possession of two break points, Berdych volleying wide. They trade potshots from the baseline. The rally inevitably ends with Berdych missing a forehand by a mile. Murray breaks.
Third set: Murray* 6-3, 6-3, 2-1 Berdych (*denotes server): At 15-0, Murray tortures Berdych, making him race back and forth across the baseline, before dabbing a volley away to lead 30-0. Murray’s concentration slips, however, and it’s 30-all after a double fault. But it’s just not happening for Berdych at the moment. He misses a simple forehand to make it 40-30. He forces deuce, however, with a canny volley. The Czech is refusing to give up the fight. Yet he fluffs the chance to earn a break point, netting a forehand with Murray stranded. Murray holds when a Berdych drop shot floats harmlessly wide.
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Third set: Murray 6-3, 6-3, 1-1 Berdych* (*denotes server): The first two points here are shared before Berdych shuffles into a forehand and nets it for 15-30. Berdych fights back, though, winning the next two points before holding with an ace. Murray has a look but decides not to waste a challenge.
Third set: Murray* 6-3, 6-3, 1-0 Berdych (*denotes server): What Murray will want now is a speedy finish, especially after his drama with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Wednesday. He takes a few steps towards achieving that goal here, holding to 15.
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Andy Murray wins the second set to lead 6-3, 6-3!
Serving to stay in the second set, Berdych is down 0-15 after knocking a forehand long. Murray has been merciless with his second serve. Berdych is beginning to unravel, sending two forehands wide to hand Murray three set points. Berdych saves the first with a confident volley but Murray takes the first with a careful forehand down the line. He’s a set away from the final and this is all going rather well. A little ... too well. Famous last words?
Second set: Murray* 6-3, 5-3 Berdych (*denotes server): Looking to consolidate that oh so precious break, Murray makes a dodgy start, slashing a forehand wide. It’s a rare unforced error. Three missed forehands from Berdych makes it 40-15, though, and Murray holds to 15 thanks to a crunching serve down the middle.
Second set: Murray 6-3, 4-3 Berdych* (*denotes server): Murray wins the first point, Berdych netting a dinked half volley after a fine backhand from left to right from Murray, who then seizes a 0-30 lead with a deep backhand down the line. It’s been a very effective shot today. Murray almost snatches three break points, Berdych there for the taking at the net, but he can’t quite make a backhand pass. Yet he has two break points when he makes Berdych run, the Czech clinging on with good determination before eventually missing a forehand down the line. He challenges in vain. Murray only needs one, Berdych netting an unconvincing backhand drop shot.
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Second set: Murray* 6-3, 3-3 Berdych (*denotes server): Murray’s got a cap on now. The sun’s shining on Centre Court! It comes in handy when he has to put away a smash for a 15-0 lead. It’s good to come prepared. Yet he’s shouting and chuntering after a poor backhand pass is patted past him by Berdych, who’s in this game at 30-all. Berdych approaches the net and Murray can’t beat him down the line, netting a forehand, giving up a break point. Murray saves it, however, serving confidently, pummelling a forehand down the line, Berdych only able to net a defensive forehand. It’s deuce. For a while. Berdych is desperately trying to turn this match around here. Murray’s having problems killing it off. These are anxious moments. Berdych is refusing to budge and he’s clutching another break point when Murray sends a forehand long. Murray nets his first serve. But Berdych can’t do enough with his return, allowing Murray to take charge. Berdych tries a backhand down the line but Murray is there with a forehand volley for deuce. Eventually, after more than 10 minutes, Murray holds.
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Second set: Murray 6-3, 2-3 Berdych* (*denotes server): Berdych stomps into a 15-0 lead thanks to an ace down the middle, Murray nowhere near it. A lovely, curling forehand is too good for Murray as well before a smash makes it 40-0. Murray earns a foothold in the game, though, edging back to 40-15 before making it 40-30 with a drop shot followed by a gorgeous lob down the line. Berdych has to be careful here. It’s deuce when he screws a forehand wide and Murray earns a break point with a rasping forehand return off an inviting second serve. Berdych saves it, though, Murray chipping a forehand return long. Murray has a second break point, attacking that second serve again, this time with a backhand down the line – but Berdych saves it with an ace. Another earns him a game point. He’s on much more solid ground when his first serve clicks and he holds thanks to a splendid half volley. It could be a crucial hold for Berdych.
Second set: Murray* 6-3, 2-2 Berdych (*denotes server): Cloudy for most of the day, the sun’s beginning to creep out from behind the clouds. It’s nice to see blue skies IN JULY. Anyway, back to the tennis. Leading 15-0, Murray skips on to a Berdych volley, ducks and prods a backhand down the line quite beautifully. He holds to love comfortably.
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Second set: Murray 6-3, 1-2 Berdych* (*denotes server): Murray decides to test Berdych’s skills under the high ball again. This time, he makes no mistake with a scornful smash for 15-0. An ace makes it 30-0 and it’s not long before it’s 40-0. Berdych is making those first serves count at the moment. He holds to 15 with a pounding serve out wide. One of those games that just flashes by for the returning player.
Second set: Murray* 6-3, 1-1 Berdych (*denotes server): This is extraordinary. Murray tries a backhand lob on the first point. It’s got nowhere enough height on it and Berdych is poised with a smash – only to use a forehand grip and blooter the ball off into an outside court. Dearie me, what a preposterous miss. He might as well have been playing with a frying pan in his hand. Murray holds to 15.
Second set: Murray 6-3, 0-1 Berdych* (*denotes server): Murray only made one unforced error in the first set. He’ll be in business if he can maintain that level of tennis. This is a good start to the second set from Berdych, though, as he races into a 40-0 lead. He holds to love thanks to a delicate drop shot.
Here’s Owen Gibson’s match report on Milos Raonic’s win over Roger Federer. As Owen’s sitting next to me, I’m obliged to say that it’s good.
Andy Murray wins the first set 6-3!
Serving for the first set, Murray takes a 15-0 lead when Berdych nets a forehand. It’s 30-0 when Berdych knocks a backhand long. He’s two points from the second set. He’s still two points from the second set, however, when he pulls a backhand wide to make it 30-15. Another errant forehand from Berdych brings up two set points, though. An ace out wide seals the first set. He’s two away from his third final.
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First set: Murray 5-3 Berdych* (*denotes server): Murray’s aggressive with his backhand here, hurting Berdych, drawing an error from the Czech for a 0-15 lead. Another mistake from Berdych, a sliced backhand that drifts long, makes it 15-30. You can tell that Murray’s sensing an opportunity might be about to arise. Because Berdych then gives him two break points, sending a forehand long and wide. Murray wastes the first, though, dragging a backhand return wide off a second serve. He takes the second, though, Berdych misfiring his forehand again. Murray will serve for the first set.
First set: Murray* 4-3 Berdych (*denotes server): Berdych decides to approach the net on the first point but Murray spots his charge, stoops and sends a clever backhand down the line for 15-0. Berdych is bossing a lot of the exchanges with that big forehand, though, with Murray a touch too passive at the moment; the Czech wins the next point when Murray sends a lob well past the baseline. Yet Murray races through the next three points, holding to 15, Berdych dumping a smash into the net.
First set: Murray 3-3 Berdych* (*denotes server): Murray’s having a look at his notes before the start of this game. Doing so doesn’t help him win the first point. Berdych smashes to good effect. He wins the next two points for a 40-0 lead and holds to love without much of an argument from Murray.
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First set: Murray* 3-2 Berdych (*denotes server): “Come on,” Murray mutters to himself as Berdych hoicks a forehand too long. Murray then wallops an ace out wide for a 30-0 lead. He holds to 15 thanks to some accurate serving.
First set: Murray 2-2 Berdych* (*denotes server): Centre Court is starting to fill up again now. Everyone’s still a bit flat, understandably so after the Federer v Raonic epic. Berdych is starting to play, though. At 15-all, he shows a neat touch at the net as Murray tries to beat him with a crosscourt backhand pass. Then he crashes a backhand from left to right for a 40-15 lead. Murray then rips into a forehand down the line to make it 40-30 but Berdych holds when Murray misses a backhand return.
First set: Murray* 2-1 Berdych (*denotes server): Berdych shakes off some of the rust with a resounding backhand winner that clips the line for a 0-15 lead. Soon it’s 15-30, Berdych taking control with a searing backhand down the line. Murray bounces back to win the next two points to lead 40-30 but the game goes to deuce when he spoons a forehand high and wide at the end of a cautious rally that he might have won a few shots earlier. A deep forehand from Berdych is enough to carve out his first break point, a chance to hit back immediately. Neither player has started particularly well. But Berdych increases the pace here, pummelling Murray before charging forward to punch a volley away. The break’s cancelled out. An impressive response from the Czech.
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First set: Murray 2-0 Berdych* (*denotes server): Berdych loses the first point, misjudging another forehand to make it 0-15. Murray then defends superbly, hooking a deep forehand from right to left and forcing a surprised Berdych to net a forehand for 0-30. Murray soon has two break points, Berdych netting again. Berdych saves the first with some heavy hitting – but he double-faults on the second. Murray breaks! It’s the perfect start for the world No2 and a very nervous one from Berdych. “More than just potentially his first final against someone other than Djokovic or Federer, a quick wiki tells me this is the first time in his entire career that a path to a major title has opened up without one of those two or Nadal blocking it,” says David Hopkins. “Is that an advantage, or does it add extra pressure?”
First set: Murray* 1-0 Berdych (*denotes server): The second men’s semi-final is underway and Andy Murray is serving first, down at the Royal Box end. He wins the first point for 15-0 but Berdych makes it 15-0 with a skidding forehand down the line. Then comes a minor classic, a taster for things to come, Murray reacting smartly at the net with an overhead backhand as Berdych threatens with a cleverly dabbed lob. That’s 30-15. Berdych then overcooks a forehand down the line for 40-15 and Murray ends up holding to 15.
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“The BBC must be spitting about Federer going out to rule out any possibility of a final between him and Murray,” says David Wall. “They must have everything crossed now that Murray wins here, I imagine Raonic vs Berdych might not be as attractive to the casual viewers (especially against Silverstone). With the weather forecast pretty lousy for Sunday, and the roof likely to be closed, that must shorten Raonic’s odds no matter who he’s against though. It’ll not be a stroll even if Murray does get there.”
Perhaps. Murray beat Raonic in the indoor court at the O2 in 2014.
BREAKING FASHION NEWS
Kim Sears is not wearing her Explicit Content t-shirt.
Here come the players. Just like after Federer’s five-setter on Wednesday, Centre Court is pretty empty for the arrival of Murray.
If Murray wins today, Sunday will be the first time he’s not up against Djokovic or Federer in a grand slam final. It’s an opportunity.
The winner of this match won’t have to play Roger Federer in the final. Not that either of these two will relish facing Milos Raonic, who’s just beaten Federer in five sets. You can relive a thrilling match here.
Preamble
Hello. Fight! Fight! Fight! Or not. Turns out these two are great friends. Honest. Those hoping for Centre Court rancour might have to look elsewhere. Contrary to public perception, there’s no bad blood between Andy Murray and Tomas Berdych as they meet for the first time on grass, despite their feisty duel in the Australian Open semi-final last year, when Mrs Murray was caught on camera using a naughty word or two at the end of the first set. The fallout from Melbourne has been forgotten. It stayed Down Under. “I spoke to Tomas the day afterwards and apologised,” Murray said. “We’ve been great since. To be honest, he’s always been extremely nice. I’ve never had any issues with him away from the court. He’s great.”
Of course, Murray’s unlikely to think that Berdych is such a swell guy if the Czech stops him from reaching his third Wimbledon final this afternoon. Not many people expect that to happen, though. Bullied by Berdych in his younger days, walloped by him in the French Open in 2010, Murray made a conscious effort to improve his physique, become more aggressive and use his already finely honed variety to dominate the Czech in recent times, winning their previous four matches to lead 9-6 in their head-to-head record. He won that bitter contest in Melbourne despite dropping the first set, having also beaten Berdych in their US Open semi-final in 2012, and the world No2 comes into this as the hot favourite, as he been in each of his matches during this tournament.
Murray is the second best player in the world, after all, while Berdych is the world No10. Yet as we saw in Murray’s stress-heavy five-set win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Wednesday, there’s little to separate the players at the highest level. If Murray’s off and Berdych is on, the odds will count for nothing. If Berdych begins to dictate rallies with that thunderous forehand, he’ll be feeling good. Let’s not forget that he reached a Wimbledon final two years before Murray got to his first, crushing Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic before falling to Rafael Nadal. He’s got a big game. Although Murray should win, I have a feeling this one won’t straightforward.
Play begins: soon.
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