First to take to Centre Court was the 6-time champion, Roger Federer playing the talented but frequently unhinged (see here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fi-CgSO9Evw) Mikhail Youzhny. Prior to the match, there was some concern from a lot of Federer fans about his apparent back-problems for which he required treatment in his match against Malisse. However any questions about Federer's form were swiftly washed away in the 6-1 6-2 6-2 massacre that followed. Youzhny looked like he lacked any real belief that he could 'pull a Rosol' and had few answers to Roger's incredible display, at one point turning to the great Andre Agassi- present in the Royal Box- and asking for some advice. Fed looked like he was moving almost as well as he did circa 2007-2008, and was devastating off both wings. His form should allow him to present a stern challenge to Djokovic in the semi-final stage, if he keeps it together mentally and doesn't collapse if he starts badly (see the French Open semi-finals).
Meanwhile on Court 1, Djokovic was equally ruthless in his dismissal of Florian Mayer. Mayer was somewhat of a surprise quarter-finalist, and at times he looked as shocked to be at this stage of the tournament as I felt at him being there. His unusual style gave Djokovic a few problems in the first, and produced some interesting exchanges, however after the first set it looked like a foregone conclusion. It stayed that way as Djokovic loosened up, and his class at the baseline shone through. He came through with a routine 6-4 6-1 6-4 scoreline, his next match is undoubtedly his first real challenge in the tournament, as he has benefited from a very easy path to the semi-finals.
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| The flying Frenchman is into the semis for a second straight year. |
Next up on Court One was the flamboyant shotmaker Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs the fluid talent of Philipp Kohlschreiber. The 28 year-old German came into this match in great form, having dispatched of two players who are in the best form of their lives; Brian Baker and Lucas Rosol- to make the quarter-final stage. Not to mention his defeat of Rafael Nadal (remember him?) on grass in the warm-up tournament in Halle.
It wasn't hard to see why, Kohlschreiber- also a very accomplished doubles player, has a game that translates very well to grass courts. His big serve, and quality net-play caused Tsonga trouble from the outset. However Tsonga's powerful serving, helped out by some errors from the Kohlschreiber racquet, saw him take the first set 7-6. Kohlschreiber hit straight back to take the second 6-4, as Tsonga faltered in his first service game of the set, then broke back- and then was broken for the set at 4-5. The third set was still competitive- going to a tiebreak which Tsonga again snuck through. After this the momentum looked firmly on the Frenchman's side, and he steamrolled through the fourth 6-2, to come through 7-6 (5), 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-2. Tsonga's strong play in the crucial tiebreaks stopping another upset.
On Centre, the match of the day unfolded between home-favourite Andy Murray and the indefatigable Spaniard, David Ferrer. Ferrer, at 30 years of age, has found the strongest form of his career recently. His incredible movement, phenomenal work-rate and accurate groundstrokes making him an increasingly difficult opponent for the top players (apart from against Nadal on clay). Murray looked good in his previous match against Cilic, but this was an entirely different proposition. The memory of his defeat to Ferrer at the French Open still very fresh, this match was always going to be tough for the Scot.
Murray looked out-of-sorts as he was broken swiftly in the first. Only to break back at 5-3 and take the first set into a breaker. The rallies were brutal, as two of the best movers on the tour were stretching and straining to make balls from some impossible angles. However Murray's normally trustworthy backhand threw up a few too many errors, and despite being in the tiebreak at 5-5, he played some lacklustre points to lose the first set, and cause no-little panic amongst the British contingent.
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| A gutsy performance from Murray took him through a drama-filled match on Wednesday |
The second set was as physical as the first, and with Ferrer breaking to serve for the set at 5-4, it looked like British hopes for a champion at Wimbledon for the first time since 1936 were going to have to wait another year. However Ferrer played a tight service game, probably the momentum-changer of the match, Murray broke and took it to another breaker. A breaker where he found himself set-point down and with some incredible shot-making brought himself back to win 8-6. At this point, if you are a Murray fan, you almost feel like he does this on purpose to keep your heart in your mouth!
Murray was solid in the third, taking it with one break and serving out at 5-4 very comfortably as his first serve percentage carried on climbing. The fourth was a battle, getting to 5-5 before a 25 minute rain-delay seperated the two competitors. The set proceeded to a third tiebreak, Murray earning a mini-break at 5-3 and served for the set at 6-4. Lining up the serve at match-point, the British fans in the stands and watching at home must of expected some kind of Murray-drama, some last twist in the plot. Murray had other plans, he smoothly cracked down an ace and the Wimbledon-crowd erupted.
The stage is set for an incredible semi-finals day on Friday- and hopefully for an exceptional final!
(Pictures from Wikimedia Commons- courtesy of Rob Dale and Kate from UK)
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