Tennis: Murray brothers aiming high at Wimbledon

Jul 3 2009 by Stephen Robertson, Stirling Observer Friday

Murray has a good record against the big-serving American, with six wins in eight encourters, including a win at Wimbledon itself in 2006.

ANDY and Jamie Murray each face a date with destiny today (Friday) as they both sensationally bid to make Wimbledon finals.

The incredible scenario sees Andy (pictured) go head-to-head with Andy Roddick in the last four, knowing that victory would make him the first Brit to reach the singles final at SW19 since Bunny Austin way back in 1938.

Big brother Jamie joins playing partner Liezel Huber as they attempt to make the mixed doubles final, the way being cleared after their scheduled quarter-final opponents Lukas Dlouhy and Iveta Benesova had to withdraw through injury.

Andy goes into his tense singles semi-final against Roddick looking like the coolest customer around, seemingly unaffected by the hype which has now built up around him to monumental proportions.

Thankfully, Murray’s route into the last four on Wednesday proved less strenuous than his epic five-set win over Stanislas Wawrinka earlier in the week. Juan Carlos Ferrero was swept aside in straight sets 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 in just over an hour-and-a-half.

Ferrero, a former French Open champion, just did not have enough to trouble Murray in truth. The British number one had a wobble early in the second set when the Spaniard picked up an early service break and led 2-0. But yet again Andy showed that he has what it takes and powered back to blitz the former world number one with a tennis masterclass.

So now to the semi-final itself and the not-so-small matter of finding a way past Roddick, who – let’s not forget – has been over the course before, twice making the Wimbledon final before meeting his match against an inspired Roger Federer in both 2004 and 2005.

It remains to be seen whether Roddick’s exertions in his five-set win over Lleyton Hewitt on Wednesday will have taken their toll but Murray has a good record against the big-serving American, with six wins in eight encourters, including a win at Wimbledon itself in 2006.

On the mixed doubles courts Jamie Murray and Huber came through their third-round match 7-6, 4-6, 6-3 against Mike Bryan and Bethanie Mattek-Sands on Wednesday, though the blistering heat on court led to Huber having to call for a break to cool off.

The withdrawal of their scheduled opponents in the quarters meant that the duo are set to face the winner of the match between number two seeds Bob Bryan and Samantha Stosur and Mark Knowles and Anna-Lena Groenefeld, who were scheduled to play as the Observer went to press yesterday.

Whatever happens, Jamie will be able to draw on his experiences of being a past champion in the event, that victory being alongside Jelena Jankovic in 2007.