Andy Murray storms into Wimbledon semi-finals - 1st Jul 2009 4:32pm
Andy Murray storms into Wimbledon semi-finals
Andy Murray has reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon for the first time with a straight-sets defeat of Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain. Murray sent down nine aces as he took the first set in a match that was much more straightforward for the Scot than the epic fourth-round clash against Stanislas Wawrinka.
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The No3 seed began imperiously, holding his opening service game to love and rounding it off with an ace, and dropped only four points on it throughout the set.
Ferrero saved a break point in the fourth game and then a set point in the 12th as he tried to force a tie-break, but Murray pounced on a weak second serve from Ferrero to smash a cross-court backhand winner, and took the set 7–5 on his second set point thanks to a double fault from his opponent.
After such a dominant display in the opening set, it was a surprise when the British No1 was broken at the start of the second. Ferrero produced a superb forehand passing shot when Murray made a rare visit to the net, and the Scot then dumped a tame backhand into the net. That helped the former world No1 take a 3–1 lead, but Murray raised his game. From deuce on his own serve, Murray took 18 of the next 19 points as Ferrero wilted under the pressure. The world No3 broke to love twice in succession, winning five games in a row to take the set 6–3.
Murray then raced through the final set, moving the Spaniard around the court at will before firing a forehand winner down the line to take a 3-2 lead. Those proved to be the only games he dropped in the concluding set. The former French Open champion's resistance ended, Murray breaking him again to love as he stormed to a 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 win. Murray will face Andy Roddick or Lleyton Hewitt in the last four.
Andy Murray has reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon for the first time with a straight-sets defeat of Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain. Murray sent down nine aces as he took the first set in a match that was much more straightforward for the Scot than the epic fourth-round clash against Stanislas Wawrinka.
The No3 seed began imperiously, holding his opening service game to love and rounding it off with an ace, and dropped only four points on it throughout the set.
Ferrero saved a break point in the fourth game and then a set point in the 12th as he tried to force a tie-break, but Murray pounced on a weak second serve from Ferrero to smash a cross-court backhand winner, and took the set 7–5 on his second set point thanks to a double fault from his opponent.
After such a dominant display in the opening set, it was a surprise when the British No1 was broken at the start of the second. Ferrero produced a superb forehand passing shot when Murray made a rare visit to the net, and the Scot then dumped a tame backhand into the net. That helped the former world No1 take a 3–1 lead, but Murray raised his game. From deuce on his own serve, Murray took 18 of the next 19 points as Ferrero wilted under the pressure. The world No3 broke to love twice in succession, winning five games in a row to take the set 6–3.
Murray then raced through the final set, moving the Spaniard around the court at will before firing a forehand winner down the line to take a 3-2 lead. Those proved to be the only games he dropped in the concluding set. The former French Open champion's resistance ended, Murray breaking him again to love as he stormed to a 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 win. Murray will face Andy Roddick or Lleyton Hewitt in the last four.