Wimbledon Day 9 wrap: Federer, Murray survive five set thrillers

Wimbledon has enjoyed some solid five setters in the last week week and a bit, but nothing that could be classed as a nail-biting epic. That all changed on Day 9. In two fantastic matches on Centre, Roger Federer and Andy Murray came through tough, tight tests to book their semifinal berths.

Federer the history maker
Roger Federer has won more Grand Slam matches (307) than any tennis player in history. That’s a fact. In coming through a titanic five set, three hour 18-minute epic against Marin Cilic, Federer surpassed the 306 wins that Martina Navratilova had previously notched up (he also reached a record-equalling 11th semifinal).

It was almost very different.

Trailing by two sets, Federer was forced to save three match points in the 6-7(7) 4-6 6-3 7-6(9) 6-3 thriller.

“The dream continues. I couldn’t be happier because I fought well and played super great in the end,” Federer gushed after the match. “It was about staying in the match and getting a little bit lucky, and that’s what happened.”

Murray survives Tsonga fightback
The Centre Court crowd had barely time to digest their afternoon Pimms when Andy Murray sauntered on to court. The highest seed left in the draw looked to be cantering towards the semifinals when Tsonga, well, woke up.

Trailing by two sets to love, Tsonga unleashed a barrage of devastating groundstrokes to claim the next two sets. But the Frenchman was spent, and going into the fifth Murray wrestled back control to claim a 7-6(10) 6-1 3-6 4-6 6-1 victory.

“It was a tough match. At the end of the fourth set it was really tough,” Murray mused. “To lose that set 6-4 was hard but I tried to use all my energy at the start of the fifth to get myself pumped up, and the crowd, and thankfully got the break and managed to hang on.”

Raonic and Berdych complete the semifinals
Fans of short rallies and thumping serves were treated to a Court No.1 smorgasbord yesterday, as first Milos Raonic and then Tomas Berdych bludgeoned their way into the semifinals.

Raonic out-muscled Djokovic’s conqueror Sam Querrey in four serve-dominated sets to win 6-4 7-5 5-7 6-4. The Canadian, who will face Federer in the semifinals, was understandably ecstatic at the result: “It’s a well deserved win for me and to get another shot at the semi-finals.”

Things were a lot easier for Tomas Berdych, who booked a semifinal with Andy Murray after cantering past Lucas Pouille 7-6(4) 6-3 6-2 in just under two hours.

Ones to watch:
Elena Vesnina is going to have to produce a freakish performance to oust Serena Williams in the first of the women’s semifinals on Centre. Still, stranger things have happened (Roberta Vinci circa US Open 2015, anyone?).

Meanwhile, the second semifinal between Angie Kerber and Venus Williams should be intriguing. While sentimentalists will be rooting for Venus, Kerber should have the edge in what will be a stompthumping clash.