GAME, SET, MATCH ANDY MURRAY! He takes a straight sets win – 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 over Tomas Berdych for a place in the finals of Wimbledon 2016.
He’ll play Milos Raonic in the finals this year and is the firm favourite to win his second Wimbledon title. An effort from Berdych, certainly, but a decisive win from Murray in the end.
Set 3, Game 8 – Berdych* is almost at the end of this match. He’s serving to stay in this match but at this stage there's really very little he can do. Still, he's making some effort. He holds for 5-3.
Set 3, Game 7 – Murray* hits winners in quick succession down court and there’s little Berdych can do. He’s running around, low on momentum and probably on motivation given the state of matters in this match right now.. Murray holds to lead 5-2.
Berdych will now serve to stay in the match.
Set 3, Game 6 – Berdych* finally holds. An impressive winner from Berdych and he’s really pushing against Murray even though the Scot is two games away from another Wimbledon final... He had to fight for that one, but he’s held. Murray 4-2 Berdych
Set 3, Game 5 – Murray* After having had an effective hold of service, a pumped up Murray shouts and grunts his way through another point and ANOTHER break of serve – the first of this set! He leads Berdych 3-1
Each player has held one service game and now Murray’s emulating his competitor with the shot placement! Berdych is supremely on the back foot here and for all intents and purposes, this looks like a Murray-Raonic final. But that doesn’t mean Berdych is giving up! 1-1
ANDY MURRAY WINS THE SECOND SET 6-3! He’s now up two sets to love.
Set 2, Game 9 – Berdych* is serving to stay in the set – and he’s unsuccessful! Murray breaks and WINS THE SET!
Set 2, Game 8 – Murray* builds on his service to hold and now Berdych is desperately on the back foot! He’ll have to serve to stay in the set now.
Set 2, Game 7 – Berdych* on serve and despite being the underdog there’s a good, strong fight from the Czech! Murray’s forcing quite a few errors off him, though, and Murray BREAKS! He has the first break of serve in this set, with Murray leading 4-3.
Set 2, Game 6 – Murray* is agitated! He was up and now he’s committed a few unnecessary errors. Berdych takes him to break point, now! Can he make up for those unforced errors?
That was a brilliant game - from both players! But Berdych is definitely the standout there. He takes Murray to break point. Doesn’t break. Advantage Berdych as he RACES to the net and gets that drop shot in with an almighty jump in the air. Murray’s agitated. “COME ON, let’s go,”he yells. And it’s probably what the British fans at SW19 are thinking, too.
After TWO break points to Berdych it’s finally Murray who holds for 3-3.
Set 2, Game 5 – Berdych* He was faltering earlier, but now the Czech is fighting back! He pulls out a stunner of a drop shot to flummox Murray and wins a great point. He’s held his service game to go up 3-2 in the second set!
Set 2, Game 4 - Murray * The Scot hits out with some powerful serves and Berdych stretches himself to combat that shot off Murray’s racquet! Swatting at it with all he’s got, Berdych eventually misses. Murray holds! 2-2 in the second set with each player holding their service games!
Set 2, Game 3 – Berdych* is not really looking himself after that first set loss. Each player has held their service game this time around so far, though. But Murray has by far been the better player already, winning 70% of his second serves. He holds, leading 2-1 with Murray behind on serve in this set.
ANDY MURRAY WINS THE FIRST SET 6-3!
What was that? Murray absolutely BLAZES past Berdych, who’s playing an error-strewn game. He’s committed 13 so far already – to Murray’s single one.
Set 1, Game 7 – Murray * is clicking into his stride now. He’s doing quite well on his second serve today, significantly better than his rival and holds for a 4-3 lead.
Set 1, Game 6 – Berdych, having survived the early break from Murray and broken back, is really finding his stride now. He shouts as he sends a backhand rocketing straight down the court, and he’s clearly in this. A determined look on the Czech’s face! Can he pull off an upset?
Murray had the early break but some brilliant winners off Berdych’s racquet and they’re coming quick and fast!
Andy Murray 3-2 Tomas Berdych
Set 1, Game 2 – and Murray BREAKS! He’s running around the court now and Berdych is scurrying. 2-0 Murray!
And they’re on court! Andy Murray serves and he's won the first game 5 minutes in!
World No. 2 Andy Murray is all set to take on 10th seed Tomas Berdych in the second semi-final at Wimbledon 2016. The second seed is the favourite to win the tournament after the early exit of defending champion Novak Djokovic, and has won the title here before in 2013 – having beaten the Serb to the title then. Murray has looked in fine form this year, making the finals of both Grand Slams so far. He finished in the finals of the Australian Open, losing to the top seeded Serb, although he taxed Djokovic significantly in the finals of the clay-court French Open. Although Murray has had much better form this year, the head-to-head record between the Czech and the Briton is relatively even. The pair have played 14 matches against each other in the past, with Murray winning 8 and Berdych 6.
This will be the pair’s first outing against eaech other on grass courts, and their fourth at the Grand Slam stage. Of their past three outings, Murray has won 3, with Berdych the victor at the claycourt French Open.
Murray has had a sublime run up to Wimbledon this year and although he has been troubled by Berdych in the past, he will not be too worried going into today’s outing. He struggled in his quarterfinal against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga earlier this week, with the Frenchman taking him to an arduous five-setter from two sets to love down against the Scot; Murray eventually took the final set in convincing fashion, sealing the match at 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 4-6, 6-1.
Berdych, meanwhile, has had a relatively easier quarter-final, beating Frenchman Lucas Pouille in straight sets. The Czech will be behind only on the fact that he has yet to win a Grand Slam, but he has been in the finals of Wimbledon before, in 2010 – and although he eventually lost the tournament that year to Rafael Nadal, he beat both Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer en route.
The pair’s most recent outing was at the quarter-finals of the ATP Madrid Masters this year, with Murray winning in straight sets. The Scot would eventually lose to Novak Djokovic in the final.
Today the firm favourite to win against Berdych, Murray will nevertheless have a good fight on his hands.
