Semifinal Friday at Wimbledon will feature two of the proverbial “Big 4” in the men’s game. That number was almost reduced to zero.
Rafael Nadal did not play in the event because of a wrist problem and Novak Djokovic lost in round three, leaving Andy Murray and Roger Federer as the top two title favorites heading into the second week. Both Murray and Federer came dangerously close to joining Nadal and Djokovic on the sidelines, but a memorable day on Centre Court saw the 34-year-old Swiss fight off three match points to overcome Marin Cilic 6-7(4), 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(9), 6-3. Murray followed suit by holding off Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-6(10), 6-1, 3-6, 4-6, 6-1.
The 2013 Wimbledon champion seemed to be in cruise control after serving up a breadstick in the second set, but he ran into major trouble thereafter. Not only did Murray lose the third and the fourth, but he also faced a break point in the first game of the fifth. But Tsonga’s missed opportunity for a quick lead in the decider proved to be his undoing. The Frenchman promptly dropped five games in succession before finally holding for 1-5. It was nothing more than a meaningless hold, because Murray quickly served out the proceedings to clinch victory.
The second-seeded Scot finished with twice as many winners (46) as unforced errors (23) while cracking 14 aces to Tsonga’s 15 over the course of three hours and 53 minutes.
“I could have won it in four sets,” Murray assessed. “But, you know, he came up with some really good stuff when he needed it…. Today was a tough match. It would have been easy to have gotten very down on myself in that fifth set after the way the fourth set ended. I was happy with that. Then you also have to be able to play good tennis in the most important moments. I think both of us did that today.”
“The finish line was far (away) tonight,” Tsonga admitted. “I came back strong on the third and fourth, but I didn’t play well in the fifth. Andy was a little better than me in this last set.”
There was no deciding set necessary in Milos Raonic vs. Sam Querrey and Tomas Berdych vs. Lucas Pouille. Querrey, who stunned Djokovic last Saturday, fell to Raonic 6-4, 7-5, 5-7, 6-4. Berdych coasted past Pouille 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-2.
“It feels great,” the Czech said. “It’s great to be in the semis again. But there’s still a lot left to play.”
Whatever is left, it will hard to beat what took place Wednesday on Centre Court.
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