Andy Murray Overcomes Ferrer To Reach Semis

Written by: Staff on 4th July 2012

Andy Murray Overcomes Ferrer To Reach Semis

epa03295695 Andy Murray of Britain celebrates his victory over David Ferrer of Spain in their quarter final match during the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 04 July 2012. EPA/GERRY PENNY |

(Original Story: http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2012/07/27/Wimbledon-Wednesday2-Murray-Overcomes-Ferrer.aspx)

British hearts were in mouths on Wednesday on Centre Court when World No. 5 David Ferrer opened up a 7-6, 5-3 lead on Andy Murray in The Championships quarter-finals. The No. 4-ranked Briton fought back though, keeping his Wimbledon dream alive with a 6-7(5), 7-6(6), 6-4, 7-6(4) victory.

The 25-year-old Murray is through to the semi-finals at the All England Club for the fourth year in a row and will face France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who overcame Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany in four sets. Murray is bidding to reach the final for the first time, having fallen to Andy Roddick in 2009 and Rafael Nadal in 2010-2011. The last British man to win Wimbledon was Fred Perry in 1936.

“Obviously the goal now is to win the next match and try and get through to the final for the first time,” said Murray. “I’m obviously happy. I’ve had a good run here the last few years, but I’m not satisfied with that. I want to try and go further.”

Murray takes a 5-1 lead into his clash with the No. 6-ranked Tsonga, including victory in their two previous grass-court meetings. He beat the Frenchman in the 2011 Queen’s Club final and in the Wimbledon quarter-finals a year earlier. Murray is bidding to reach his fourth Grand Slam final. He finished runner-up at the 2008 US Open (l. to Federer) and at the Australian Open in 2010 (l. to Federer) and 2011 (l. to Djokovic).

Victory over Ferrer saw Murray avenge the defeat he suffered to the Spaniard four weeks ago in the Roland Garros quarter-finals. Ferrer looked set to inflict more heartache on Murray as he nearly engineered a two-set lead. The Valencia native initially squandered a 5-3 lead, but regrouped to take the opening set in a tie-break. He then served for the second set at 5-3, having broken serve in the eighth game, but Murray immediately drew level with a service break to 15. Ferrer led 5-2 in the ensuing tie-break, and had a set point chance at 6-5, but was denied by Murray who converted his first opportunity after a lengthy baseline exchange that ended in Ferrer finding the net.

“I knew it’s a lot harder to hold serve from the near end of the court,” said Murray. “I think both times when he served for it, he was serving at that end. I just tried to make him play some balls, tried to dictate more of the points.”

Murray was under pressure early in the third set, saving two break points at 15/40 in the fourth game. He then took the lead in the match when he broke Ferrer in the ninth game and served out to love. Ferrer again had the chance to break early in the fourth set, but was denied two break points in the eighth game before then rallying from 15/40 down himself in the following game. Play was suspended for 24 minutes at 5-5 due to rain, and at the resumption Murray claimed victory in the tie-break, finishing with an ace after three hours and 52 minutes. Murray fired 18 aces and hit 61 winners to 39 unforced errors.

“I think the key was in the second set, when I had one set point in the tie-break,” said Ferrer. “But Andy, in important moments he played really good. He played more aggressive than me, and he was better. I never made a quarter-final at Wimbledon. I played really good tennis these two weeks, and I’m very happy for that.”

The match was watched by HRH The Duke and HRH The Duchess of Cambridge, and former champions Andre Agassi, Rod Laver and Richard Krajicek.

Topics: 10sballs.com, Andy Murray, David Ferrer, Philipp Kohlschreiber, Rafael Nadal, Sports, Tennis News, Wimbledon 2012