Wimbledon Tennis 2010: Andy Murray to Play Rafael Nadal in Men’s Singles Semi-Final

By Robin Scott; published on June 30, 2010 at 6:59 pm

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Andy Murray (4) is to play Rafa Nadal (2) after both players overcame dropped opening sets to record 3-1 victories in today’s Wimbledon 2010 Men’s Singles Quarter Final matches.

Home hopeful Andy Murray beat Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (10) in four sets, 6-7 7-6 6-2 6-2.

Murray, despite playing some excellent tennis, which had seen him enter this match as the only player yet to drop a set, lost the opener on a tie break, before getting the early break in the second set. It wasn’t to be so easy for Murray, however, as Tsonga immediately broke back before both players held their serve to take the second set to another tiebreak.

Murray picked up the set-winning chance when he chipped back a return of serve with the scores at 5-5 in the breaker – Tsonga left the ball as it looped past him, only to watch in horror as it bounced on the base-line, setting up a service for the set for Murray, which he took when Tsonga’s second serve return flew long. 1-1.

In the third set, Murray took a huge 10 break points before converting in what was a match turning service game – Murray broke again on his way to a 6-2 third set, as Tsonga began to look tired.

The Frenchman had regularly been clutching his right, racket hand, after many big points, and was struggling to maintain the power he had displayed in the early stages of this match, so it was a little unsurprising that Murray broke twice to race away to 4-0 in the fourth and final set.

The handshake would follow soon after, as Tsonga could offer no resistence against Murray’s much improved first service.

Murray will play Rafa Nadal after the Spaniard came back from one set down to defeat Swede Robin Soderling (6) 3-6 6-3 7-6 6-1.

Nadal had a nervy start, but soon settled into his usual powerful game in the second set to level the match one-all. The crucial turning point would prove to be set number three, which Nadal eventually lifted 7-4 in the tiebreaker before overrunning his tiring opponent in the fourth set, 6-1.

Murray Nadal is the Semi-Final that the seeding would have indicated, and so it will be. With Murray showing excellent form, and Nadal demonstrating occasional lapses from his brilliant best, it could be the year the Britain, at last, has a man in the Wimbledon Final. With Roger Federer going out today, it seems like whoever can lift this difficult match has a real chance of taking the title.

Nadal versus Murray has all the hall-marks of a classic Wimbledon match, and it is difficult to predict who will win on the day – an interesting prospect awaits tennis fans on Centre Court this week.

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Posted by Robin Scott on June 30, 2010. Filed under Sport,Tennis,Wimbledon. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

News Tags: Andy Murray, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Wimbledon.

About Robin Scott

Robin Scott is co-founder and publisher of The Global Herald.

Website: http://theglobalherald.com/