How Andy Murray beat Tsonga with the help of HawkEye

Friday 6 July 2012

Andy Murray looked in supreme form as he took the first set of his Wimbledon semi-final against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Centre Court.

There was no doubt the Scot went into the match as the favourite having beaten Tsonga in five of their six previous meetings, including in the quarter-finals here two years ago.

The Frenchman, though, has been a consistent improver and beat Roger Federer in the last eight at Wimbledon 12 months ago from two sets down, the first man ever to do so against the Swiss at a grand slam.

Murray began confidently and aggressively, and made the best possible start with a break in Tsonga's first service game, nailing a backhand down the line.Fifth seed Tsonga had certainly had an easier route to the last four than Murray, helped by Rafael Nadal's early loss, while there were also question marks over a finger injury he picked up at Queen's Club.But he began to find his form and forced Murray to save two break points in the fifth game, which he did with aplomb then fired down two aces to move 4-1 ahead.And he held his advantage to take the set 6-3, bringing up set point with a crunching forehand down the line and then clinching it with a simple winner.This was a far cry from the extreme tension of Murray's four-hour win over David Ferrer on Wednesday, let alone his previous semi-finals here against Andy Roddick and Nadal.Only Tim Henman has ever lost his first four semi-finals at the All England Club, and Murray wanted to keep it that way.There was certainly pressure on his shoulders but he was not showing it, playing freely and even managing to look relaxed.Murray slipped over when attempting to return serve in the third game of the second set but there did not seem to be any damage done.The fourth seed's serve, such a weapon all fortnight, was again proving a reliable ally, and he was also getting plenty of balls back in play off the Tsonga delivery.The Frenchman's serve had only been broken four times in the tournament before this match, but Murray got his reward for more excellent play in the fifth game, moving 3-2 ahead when Tsonga drilled a forehand wide.And once again a single break was enough, the home favourite taking the set 6-4 and moving to within one set of a historic final appearance.The statistics showed just what a superb performance it had been from Murray. In the first two sets he hit 21 winners and made only four unforced errors, while Tsonga won just two points against serve in the whole of the second set.It was all too easy, this was a Wimbledon semi-final after all, and victory seemed a little further away when Murray's level dropped for the first time in the second game of the third set and Tsonga broke to love.The 27-year-old was throwing everything he had at Murray and he had a chance to go 4-0 in front but this time the Scot held on.It seemed that could be an important moment when Murray had three chances to retrieve the break in the next game, only for Tsonga to find his big serves when he really needed them.World number four Murray had lifted his game again but the damage was already done and Tsonga took the set 6-3 when Murray netted a backhand.The start of the fourth set was huge for both players, and it was Murray who made the first move, breaking for a 3-1 lead.Tsonga was not done though, playing some stunning points to break back immediately, the power of his final backhand return simply too much for Murray.Tsonga was the last Frenchman to beat Murray at a grand slam, in the first round of the Australian Open in 2008 when he went on to reach his first grand slam final.A second final for Tsonga was still a long way away, and Murray had two points for a 5-3 lead when Tsonga, who had volleyed so well, dumped a regulation one in the net.Murray could not take the chances, though, twice ending up on the grass, first through a slip and then a diving volley that landed wide.It was a big chance, and Murray knew it. Suddenly he looked tight, and Tsonga brought up two break points of his own.The fourth seed was not helped by a poor line call on a big first serve but his opponent charitably blazed two shots over the baseline and again Murray held on.The winners had dried up, but Murray piled on the pressure with Tsonga serving at 6-5 behind, moving to love-30, and two match points soon followed when the Frenchman netted a volley.There was a deafening roar on Centre Court and Murray looked to have taken his chance with a brilliant forehand return.Dramatically, it was called out, but HawkEye showed it to be in and the Scot, almost overcome with emotion, looked up at the sky as he took in his achievement.

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How Andy Murray beat Tsonga with the help of HawkEye

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