‘Nation’s last hope’ Andy Murray is all smiles after reaching Wimbledon semis

The Glasgow native outlasted Tsonga as they went the full five sets with a 7(12)-6(10), 6-1, 3-6, 4-6, 6-1 victory.

LONDON – Roger Federer and Andy Murray are closing in on another Wimbledon final. “So it was great on so many levels”. Right now, he is looking forward to win his seventh Grand Slam Semi-final since two years.

However, if he was to win that 100th match on grass, he had first to beat No12 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and that was no small task. At one point, you’re used to it. It’s not like, Oh, my God, all of a sudden there’s a match point, all of a sudden there’s a breakpoint to save.

Kim clapped and cheered as Andy took the first set 7-5 in a close fought battle.

It wasn’t too much of a distraction as he broke for 3-2 before Tsonga returned the favour for 4-4.

However, the crowd were to be treated to their second marathon match of the day as Tsonga cut loose in the third set and unleashed his explosive power to assert some dominance at last.

As ever with Federer it was the manner of his win and also the hinterland from which he came with his forced missing of the French Open through injury. View image | gettyimages.com The British number one and number three seed was outclassed in the opening two sets as Djokovic looked like cruising…

“We’ve never played on grass before”, said Murray.

Murray had been marching through these championships with nearly zen-like serenity before his quarterfinal against Tsonga and hadn’t dropped a set or lost his serve.

“The press were slamming me for losing that one and a couple of weeks later he was in the final, so he’s gone on to become a top player”, Murray observed. So great was his control of the first two sets that he lost just seven points on his serve during that period and faced no break points. Later, another break carved out a 4-2 lead for Murray, after a game in which Tsonga was guilty of a pair of costly unforced errors.

Murray said: “I know it will be a tough match”. Only one thing seems certain, he surely will not have to play in front of any more empty seats on Centre Court again. The following game would test Tsonga’s resolve and patience. It would have been easy to have got very down on myself in that fifth set after the way the fourth set ended.

“I definitely felt like I got lucky to some extent today”.

He had no joy and instead hired Dani Vallverdu, Lendl’s right-hand man while coaching Murray, but their partnership came to an end following a chastening 6-0 6-0 loss to David Goffin in Rome in May.

“I think it can give you a bit of confidence”. It can help to go through games, stages and matches that are challenging so that if you’re in that position in the next couple of matches, you’ve been there.

On Friday he will face the 6ft 5in 2010 finalist Berdych and will be hoping he can reach his third Wimbledon final.

Murray meets Tomas Berdych.

In the other half of the bracket, No. 10 seed Tomas Berdych made it through No. 32 Lucas Pouille, taking him down in straight sets, 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-2. He was also able to deflect three of Pouille’s four break point tries.

The influence of McEnroe, a new addition to his coaching team, was apparent as sixth-seeded Raonic charged into the net behind his booming first serves and confounded American Querrey with a succession of deft winning volleys. Two successive double faults cost Tsonga his serve in the fifth game, while a backhand victor saw the Frenchman level at 4-4. This time, however, would see him take advantage and break back for 3-4.