Tennis: Tested to the limit

Jul 1 2009 by Stephen Robertson, Stirling Observer Wednesday

THE nation will hold its breath yet again later today (Wednesday) as Andy Murray attempts to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals for the first time.

Murray goes in against Spain’s Juan Carlos Ferrero – a wild card entrant – knowing that he is now just three wins away from the men’s singles title.

If nerves were not already jangling for the Great British public they certainly are now after the Dunblane ace came through an epic five-setter against Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka late on Monday night.

The crowd raised the new Centre Court roof – closed on Monday for the first time during the championships – as Murray eventually did just enough to win through 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 in just under four hours.

Make no mistake, though: this was a battle-and-a-half as Wawrinka came out of the traps flying, racing to a 4-0 lead in the first set – something that was not really meant to be in the script.

The Swiss ace, so long in the shadow of his compatriot Roger Federer, duly went on to wrap up the set 6-2 and the rollercoaster was in motion. Further jitters were to follow in the second set, Wawrinka having break points for a 3-2 lead, but Murray again dug deep to hold.

A break eventually came along for Murray himself in game eight, a chance he took, and he levelled the match soon afterwards.

The pair continued to slug it out but it was Wawrinka who blinked first in the third set, Murray nabbing the crucial break to lead 4-3 and going on to edge into a two sets to one lead.

Any thoughts that the match would be coming to a quick end were dispelled, though, as Wawrinka refused to lie down and battled back again to take the fourth.

It may have been dark outside as the deciding set got underway but both players continued to shine.

In the end it was Murray who held his nerve, making the crucial breakthrough to lead 5-3 and serving out before falling to his knees as the crowd went ballistic.

Murray now goes in against Ferrero today, currently ranked 70 in the world though he spent some time as world number one earlier in his career.

If the British number one makes it through he would face the winner of the match between Andy Roddick and Lleyton Hewitt for a place in the final.

On the doubles courts Jamie Murray and playing partner Liezel Huber made early progress in the mixed, coming through their opening two rounds against Rik de Voest and Raquel Kops-Jones then tenth seeds Nenad Zimonjic and Zi Yan.

Jamie, of course, won the mixed doubles event back in 2007 alongside Jelena Jankovic.