Wimbledon 2015 Gentlemen Semis Highlights: Roger Federer Downs Andy Murray, Sets Up Title Clash vs Novak Djokovic
Roger Federer beats Andy Murray in straight sets to advance to the Wimbledon 2015 final. Catch all the highlights here.
Roger Federer is now one win away from his eighth Wimbledon title and his first Grand Slam since 2012. Catch all the highlights here.
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22.56: It's all over! Roger Federer has beat Andy Murray 7-5, 7-5, 6-4. He will face Novak Djokovic in the final.
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22.49: Federer holds, Murray fights and will now serve to stay in the semifinal.
22.42: There is no letting up from Federer on service and Murray too is holding on well. It's 4-3 to Federer with Murray to serve.
22.34: It's neck-to-neck in the third set with 2-2 on the scoreline.
22.31: Federer has been immaculate in his service games, taking 49 out of 59 points on first serves and 9 out of 19 on second serves.
22.27: Yuvraj Singh has clearly shown whom he supports today
King roger ! Keep going finish it up in the third set ! ????
- yuvraj singh (@YUVSTRONG12) July 10, 2015
22.22: And Federer takes the 2nd set! He's won it 7-5. A fighting Murray couldn't stop the seven-time champion from going 2-0 up.
22.16: This match is turning into an epic here.
Probably the best game ever played #goosebumps
- Robin Soderling (@RSoderling) July 10, 2015
22.15: Federer continues to keep it simple on service - takes the game easily and goes up 6-5. Murray will serve once again to stay in the set.
22.13: Sensational stuff from Andy Murray! He saves FIVE set points to take the set to 5-5. What a fantastic game of tennis this was, with as many as 7th deuces. Is this the moment of reckoning for Murray?
21.55: Federer continues to be the better player of the two. He's hit 15 aces 6 and 34 winners to 19. Murray will now serve to stay in the second set.
21.48: Murray is looking far more confident against Federer's serve but it's all square 3-3 in the second set.
21.40: Federer has been in full flow today. He hit 23 winners on his way to the first set victory.
21.25: And Federer breaks! A bit unfortunate in the end as Murray mishits and deflects a straightforward return onto himself. But Federer has been phenomenal! He takes the first set 7-5.
21.20: Murray collects a couple of fantastic points off Federer's serve but he still can't break. He will serve to stay in the set again as Federer is up 6-5.
21.14: Murray holds, it's 5-5 in the first set.
21.13: Federer serves and serves brilliantly again. He's up 5-4 and Murray will serve to stay in the set.
21.11: Drop shots, passing shots and a whole lot of fist pumps - there is no letting up from either sides of the court. 4-4 in the 1st set.
21.09: Point of the match so far?
Point of the Match so far!!! Andy Murray v Roger Federer https://t.co/JYSzeMBkLd #bbctennis #Wimbledon
- Chris Goldsmith (@TheTennisTalker) July 10, 2015
21.05: It's all square between Federer and Murray as they hold respective serves - 3-3 in the 1st set.
20.54: Federer makes up for an unforced error with a couple of aces. No breaks still. 2-1 to Federer in the 1st set.
20.52: Andy Murray has an equally good start. Holds his serve, makes it 1-1 in the first set.
20.49: Federer seems to be in fine rhythm straightaway. But so is Murray. With a couple superb returns he takes the game to deuce but Federer holds on to go up 1-0.
20.46: And we're underway! Federer serves first.
20.41: Roger Federer has lost just one of his 16 sets in this year's Wimbledon. Andy Murray has conceded two of his 17 sets.
20.39: Federer and Murray are out in the middle, hitting to each other. Can Federer move one step closer to an eighth Wimbledon title? or will 'home boy' Murray reign supreme? An epic-encounter in the making.
20.37: Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli are in attendance at the Centre Court today.
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20.04: Novak Djokovic is into the final! The defending champion has beaten Richard Gasquet in three sets (7-6, 6-4, 6-4) to advance. Who will challenge him for the title - Roger Federer or Andy Murray? We will soon find out.
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PREVIEW
Federer holds a 12-11 edge over Murray, taking the past three matchups. Even Djokovic isn't sure who should be expected to win. "I can't pick a favorite, honestly," Djokovic said. "I would go 50-50. It's really hard to say." Friday's Wimbledon 2015 semifinal will virtually be a match-up of equals. (Federer vs Murray - Top Five Battles)
Murray has a problem. As he prepares for his 24th match with Federer - and third with the Swiss on Centre Court - he has to nurse a recovering right shoulder that he hopes will not rob him of a chance to contest the final on Sunday. (Djokovic Brings Up Curtains on Semis Day)
Murray's assistant coach, Jonas Bjorkman, insists the injury may not be an issue. "He was hitting the ball nicely," Bjorkman said, "and, even against Vasek Pospisil (in the quarterfinals), he looked great. He has played a lot of matches this year, probably more than ever with the great season he has had. Some days you are a little bit more tired in the muscles, you need to do the rehab and all of that. But against Pospisil it was looking great."
Bjorkman does not expect Federer to play desperate tennis even though this may be his last chance to win a record eighth title here. "Everyone said three years ago that he was done and finished but he's still there, playing well, competing for the big matches. I think it's probably more media speculation that this might be his last one. You can never count him out. He's proved that a lot of times." (Am The Worst of the Semi-Finalists: Gasquet)
It is safe to say this will be the first Wimbledon semi-final with two Leeds United fans from Sweden lined up opposite each other in their respective players' boxes.
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Bjorkman says of Federer's coach, Stefan Edberg: "He's definitely been a role model for me. He was my mentor more or less because he helped me from early on so he has always been there for me and given good advice. It always meant a lot if he called. We saw each other briefly now, and we were laughing, it will be fun to be in the opposite box."
And he admires what the former world No 1 and Wimbledon champion has done for Federer. "He has managed to get Roger to be more aggressive. He is definitely looking for the net a lot more, to shorten the points instead of maybe challenging the guys from the back as much.
"Roger always had a great volley but he was sometimes pretty casual in the volley. Now you can see he is more determined when he comes forward, and he is focusing once he is there. He really puts the effort in. I think that is the big change in his game in which Stefan has helped."
Murray defeated Federer at Centre Court to win the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics. Murray credited those two matches with helping him take a step up in his career. Later in 2012, Murray won his first major championship at the US Open, and in 2013, he became the first British man in 77 years to win Wimbledon.
(With inputs from The Guardian, Agencies)