His lead slipping away, Andy Murray needed a little something extra to keep him going in the fifth set.
He found it in the fans, and in himself.
The second-seeded Murray absorbed everything he could from the Centre Court faithful, using their screams and cheers to help him hold off Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-6 (12/10), 6-1, 3-6, 4-6, 6-1 and advance to the Wimbledon semi-finals for the seventh time.
Photo: AP
“That’s why it’s important to try to use the crowd, if you can, to your advantage, because they do make a difference,” said Murray, who has now won six straight five-set matches. “In long matches, tough matches, even if it’s half a percent difference, it’s good.”
Murray won the title at Wimbledon in 2013, becoming the first British man to win at the All England Club since Fred Perry in 1936, but he has not won a major since, losing in the finals of both the Australian Open and French Open this year.
The man he lost to in both of those finals, Novak Djokovic, has been eliminated from Wimbledon. However, Murray still has to beat Tomas Berdych in today’s semi-finals to have a chance at a second Wimbledon title on Sunday against either Roger Federer or Milos Raonic.
The tough test against Tsonga can only help.
“I think it can give you a bit of confidence. It can help to go through games and stages in matches that are challenging,” Murray said. “If you’re in that position in the next couple of matches, you know you’ve been there.”
On Wednesday, Murray won a tough first set against Tsonga and then easily took the second, but just as it appeared that Murray was going to cruise into the semi-finals yet again, his French opponent started to turn things around.
Tsonga saved three break points while trailing 4-3 in the fourth set. That was part of a four-game run that allowed him to force a final set. And not only did Tsonga have all the momentum, but he also was 6-0 at Wimbledon for his career in five-setters. So when he held a break point in the opening game, things were looking bleak for Murray.
“I’d missed a couple of poor shots in that game, especially on the 30-all point. Missed a ball that was almost inside the service box,” Murray said. “Obviously to get that hold and just be ahead, again, was big.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Roger Federer staged a sensational Wimbledon escape act as the seven-time champion saved three match points and came from two sets down to clinch a semi-final clash with Milos Raonic.
Federer fought back from the brink in a Centre Court thriller as the world No. 3 defeated Croatian ninth seed Marin Cilic 6-7 (4/7), 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (11/9), 6-3 to reach a record-equaling 11th semi-final at the All England Club.
The 34-year-old also claimed a new record for Grand Slam match wins of 307 as he made a 40th semi-final at the majors.
Federer’s dramatic triumph was his 84th win at Wimbledon — taking him level with Jimmy Connors — and gave him a semi-final against Canadian sixth seed Raonic as he continues his pursuit of an 18th Grand Slam title and a record eighth All England Club crown.
Raonic enjoyed far more serene progress to his second Wimbledon semi-final as he ended Sam Querrey’s surprise run to the last eight with a 6-4, 7-5, 5-7, 6-4 victory on Court One.
The 25-year-old will hope it is third time lucky after losing his previous two Grand Slam semi-finals.
Now coached by former Wimbledon champion John McEnroe, Raonic blitzed American 28th seed Querrey, who had stunned defending champion Novak Djokovic in the third round.
He hit 58 winners and served 13 aces and finally looks capable of fulfilling the potential that saw him earmarked as a future star several years ago.
“There were some momentum shifts there. I’m glad I was able to get back on the right path after he won the third,” Raonic said. “I was able to get things back on my terms. It’s a well deserved chance to be in the semi-finals. It’s exciting, but also humbling because you have to get the win. I hope to do better than last time.”
Federer has won nine of their 11 meetings, including in the last four at Wimbledon two years ago, but Raonic triumphed in their last encounter in Brisbane earlier this year.
Meanwhile, in the third round of the mixed doubles, Chan Yung-jan became the final Taiwanese player to exit at the All England Lawn Tennis Club.
Fifth seeds Chan and Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia fell to 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) defeat to Scott Lipsky of the US and Alla Kudryavtseva of Russia in 63 minutes on Court 17.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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