Andy Murray defeats David Ferrer to reach last four
4th July 2012
Andy Murray is into the semi-finals of the men’s singles at Wimbledon after a 6-7, 7-6, 6-4, 7-6 win over David Ferrer.
It was a shaky start for Andy Murray on Centre Court at The All England Club as he faced Spaniard and world number 5 David Ferrer.
In the third game of the opening set Ferrer, who has beaten Murray in their last two encounters, the last being in the quarter-finals of the French Open earlier this year, took the first break of the match to lead the Briton 3-1.
“It was a really tough match,” Murray commented, “it was a long match with really tight moments and there were many ups and downs.”
The world number 5 continued to dominate play and found himself with a set point after a well-timed inside out forehand winner. Murray however, dogged trouble as Ferrer hit the ball long. Murray then went on to break Ferrer with a backhand passing shot when Ferrer stormed the net.
In the tenth game, Murray held serve to even the match at 5-5 and in doing so winning three games on the trot. Play then stayed with serve to take the match into a tie-break.
The tie-break was a tight affair which saw Murray on the defence as Ferrer controlled play. The Spaniard then earned his second set point which he took after a backhand error from the British No.1.
The second set stayed with serve and there was no sign of a break until the all-important seventh game, where Ferrer found himself with two break points. However the world no.4 served himself out of trouble to take the game to deuce. Another break point opportunity for the Spaniard ended in favour of Murray who grinded the game out to seal a 4-3 lead in the second.
At 4-4 Murray saw himself having to hold onto his serve again once again as Ferrer applied the pressure, and after an attempted drop-shot from the Briton, Ferrer was left with the lead.
Murray however broke straight back to even the match at 5-5 and some outrageous running from the 25 year-old in the eleventh game cemented Murray’s 6-5 lead. However Murray did not stay ahead for long and the second set was taken into another tie-break.
In the breaker Murray opened by hitting three unforced errors in a row to give Ferrer a comfortable lead. Murray battled back to turn it around and earned his first set point of the match, and with some aggressive play evened the match one set all.
In the third set, Murray found himself yet again having to defend early on, but this time Murray dug himself out of trouble and the games continued to go with serve. Then at 4-4 Murray took advantage of a couple of unforced errors that the Spaniard hit and with a massive ‘Come on!’ he broke Ferrer. The Briton’s winning momentum continued swing in his favour as he took the third set with an ace.
The fourth set was tight and again remained with serve. Ferrer had his chances at 4-3 but failed to convert as Murray held strong by counter-punching and playing more aggressively. Ferrer then started feeling the pressure, making one too many unforced errors to give Murray break point. The Spaniard saved the break and brought the game to deuce. The points then flitted between deuce/advantage for both players until Ferrer hit a winner smash to keep a 5-4 lead.
However, for the third time in the fourth set, Murray served and held to love to even for 5-5. Rain then started to fall on Centre Court and players left to wait for the shower to pass.
Once back on court both Ferrer and Murray held serve and the fourth set was to be decided in a tie-break. In the breaker Murray looked comfortable and sealed his place in the semi-finals with an ace.
Murray, who is playing in his fourth consecutive Wimbledon semi-final meets Frenchman Jo Wilfried Tsonga in the last four.