ANDY Murray hopes that experience will pay dividends when he plays his first Grand Slam final against anyone other than Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon tomorrow. The World No 2, who coasted past Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic, will meet Milos Raonic of Canada on Centre Court after the big-serving No 6 seed defeated Federer in five sets. While the match will be Murray's 11th Grand Slam final in all, and his third at SW19, it will be the first time Raonic has reached this stage at any of the major championships. The Scot said it was hard to predict how anyone will react in their first Grand Slam final.
"I hope that's an advantage," said the Scot, after his straightforward 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 victory against Berdych. "Obviously it's the first time I'll play a slam final against someone that isn't Roger or Novak. So that's different. But you never know how anyone's going to deal with the pressures of a slam final. So I just have to go out there and concentrate on my side, do what I can to prepare well for it and see what happens."
Murray cited the memory of his maiden major final, which ended in a straight sets defeat to Federer in the 2008 US Open. "When I played my first one, it all came round really quickly for me," said the Scot. "At the US Open that year, I played the semi over two days against Rafa. Then I went straight into the final the following day. I didn't feel so nervous before that one maybe because there wasn't as much time to get ready for it. But playing a slam final obviously is different. There's a little bit more riding on it. That's what makes these events special."
As impressively as Raonic - who has John McEnroe as part of his grass-court entourage - performed during his 6-3, 6-7 (3), 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 win against Federer, Murray is also emboldened by the recent meeting of the pair in the final of Queen's Club. The Scot was a set and 3-0 down before he recovered strongly to take a record fifth title at that London venue by a 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-3 scoreline. He has won their last five meetings in all and will go into the match as a strong favourite.
"We played a few times this year," said Murray. "But there's things that all players will do differently depending on whether they're playing on clay than grass. So it helps to have played a match against him on the grass. To see some of the things he's doing on this surface a little bit differently.
"The thing that stands out for me [from the Queen's final] was the return winner I hit on the breakpoint at 3?1 [in the second set] to get back into the match," Murray added. "That was the turning point really. He hadn't lost serve the whole week. But I came up with that return, the match changed from there."
While the World No 2 said he would cherish a second Wimbledon title, and his third Grand Slam in all, he downplayed the inevitable hype about the role being played in it by 'supercoaches' Ivan Lendl and McEnroe. "I think it's more interesting for you guys than it is for the players," said Murray, "because I'm playing against Milos, I'm not playing against John, and Milos isn't playing against Ivan.
"These tournaments are why I'm still playing and why I'm training hard," he added. "It's obviously an opportunity. I have put myself in a position to try and win the event again. It's against someone new in the final. But Milos is a very tough opponent. He's played very well on the grass this year and has earned his right to the final by beating one of the best, if not the best player, ever at this event."
Raonic came to this year's Wimbledon for one reason - to win it - and said he is determined to play the final on his terms. He has served 137 aces so far this fortnight, and yesterday set a new top speed for this year's tournament by sending one down at 144mph. Murray, however, is the best returner in the sport.
"I am by no means done here," the Canadian said. "I have a great opportunity on Sunday. Andy does a lot of things well but I think the biggest challenge for me, which I felt was the thing I want to happen the least, or repeat itself the least from Queen's, is that I got sucked into his game. I didn't play on my terms.
"I'm up there 7?6, then I have a point for 4?1 in a game I end up getting broken by a close miss," he added. "I was disappointed with how I dealt with things after that. I sort of went into my shell, didn't put myself out there enough. That's the thing I want to avoid the most."
A crestfallen Federer, who sustained a heavy tumble on the Centre Court surface during that fifth set, vowed to return again next year, by which time he will be 35. He nonetheless insisted there was more to life than winning a record eighth Wimbledon title. "There are a lot of things I'd like to achieve besides winning Wimbledon. But yes, I hope to be back on Centre Court, to be very clear for you."
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