The Sports Lowdown For All Your News and OpinionsAndy Murray has booked an intriguing semi-final match with Roger Federer after the Brit defeated Vasek Pospisil 6-4 7-5 6-4. The 2013 champion was forced to cope with two rain delays, but he only needed one break in each set to see off the spirited challenge from the Canadian.
In the opening set, Murray made a quick start in gaining the early break of serve, when Pospisil was unable to control his opponent’s low backhand passing shot. At 3-1, the rain forced the players off, but it was the Canadian who appeared to settle in when the match resumed. An overhead winner would have given Pospisil three break points to recover the deficit, but the Canadian missed it to gift Murray the chance to eventually escape and hold serve. Pospisil threatened again at 5-4 when he saved two set points on Murray’s serve, but the former champion swiftly responded once again to clinch the set 6-4.
Both players held their service games early on in the second set, as Pospisil was growing in confidence. The Canadian successfully backed up his big serve using his net play and forehand, which eased the pressure, but he was unable to force an opportunity on Murray’s service games. Play was suspended again with the score 4-3 to Pospisil, and soon the decision came to use the Wimbledon centre court roof. As the match got underway again, there was still nothing to separate the two quarterfinalists until 5-5. The Brit’s variety and depth of shot placed Pospisil under immense pressure, and a scintillating cross court backhand pass sealed the crucial break for Murray. The Canadian was unable to recover, and the Brit comfortably closed out the set 7-5 to extend his lead further.
The third set saw Pospisil on the ropes once again, but he just held on to ensure Murray would not grab the early break. Even though it was the Brit who was creating the break points and easing through his own service games, the resilient Canadian saved them all to edge ahead. However, Murray’s unrelenting pressure on his tiring opponent eventually paid off at 4-4, and a backhand winner left the Brit serving for the match. Pospisil put up a brave fight to push Murray in a lengthily final game, but the former champion stood firm to complete the victory.
Murray will now play the seven times SW19 winner Roger Federer in a mouth-watering semi-final clash, as the Swiss maestro dispatched Gilles Simon 6-3 7-5 6-2.
In the other matches, Novak Djokovic brushed aside Marin Cilic 6-4 6-4 6-4 and will face Richard Gasquet next, after the Frenchman outlasted the reigning French Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka 6-4 4-6 3-6 6-4 11-9.
On the women’s side, Serena Williams will play Maria Sharapova in the semi-finals after both needed three set wins in their respective quarter-finals, whilst Agnieszka Radwańska and Garbiñe Muguruza also progressed to face each other for a place in the final.
