IT was just another Wednesday.

Tens of millions watching on the box, a five-set mano a mano with a belligerent Spaniard, a television interview that went viral on social media, a wee turn on the exercise bike, news that one has been nominated for a top sports award, a chat with Fergie and then to meet the press and answer a question of whether it was hard to face "a player your mother admires".

The progression of Andy Murray to a Wimbledon semi-final has become almost routine; the Scot achieving his fifth consecutive last-four place at the All England Club by beating Fernando Verdasco, admired or otherwise by his mother, in five pulsating sets on Wednesday.

The hoopla that surrounds this achievement more than warrants the description of a circus, with various media types auditioning for the role of clown with suitably large feet that they placed in the doo-doo.

Garry Richardson, the BBC interviewer, was merely the latest to don the large red nose, asking if Ivan Lendl would apply the hairdryer to Murray after the semi-final "to sort of gee you up". The Scot needed "geed up" in the same way a dead horse needs flogged. Murray, typically, was both suitably stern in the interview and forgiving afterwards, telling the twitterati to lay off the journalist.

In other media-related news, Murray has been nominated in two categories at the ESPY (Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly) awards, one of the biggest sporting accolades in the USA. "I'm up for best tennis player and best moment of 2012, which is pretty cool," said the world No.2. "I think it was the story behind losing the Wimbledon final then a few weeks later winning in the final of the Olympics."

Murray took a breath yesterday and now considers the challenge posed by the 6ft 8in Jerzy Janowicz. Tennis will intrude amid the hype this afternoon when the Scot faces a 22-year-old who has the power and the belief to create problems.

It is a task that will warm the heart of Murray. The 26-year-old admits to nerves before matches but the trials of winning consume him both physically and intellectually.

Murray is a tennis student. He graduated in grand slam honours with his victory at the US Open last year but, ironically, the Richardson interview produced an authentic line from his subject when Murray said he did not believe "he knew it all". This is not for the lack of trying. Murray studies draws, DVDs, and stats sheets to produce a portrait of the world of tennis, and this is not restricted in scope to the men's game. For example, he reeled off the winning streak of Serena Williams at a previous press conference.

His knowledge of Janowicz will not be restricted to their two meetings on court. This contest stands at 1-1, with Murray winning a Davis Cup tie four years ago and the Pole knocking the Scot out of the Paris Masters last year.

The good news is that Janowicz is a big server and Murray can play them better than anyone on tour. The bad news is that big servers can have their day. Andy Roddick, who hit a ball so hard it squealed, had such an afternoon against Murray in the Wimbledon semi-final of 2009.

"The return is the best part of my game," said Murray. "Normally, the big players don't like playing against guys who are returning their biggest weapon [but] sometimes they can take that weapon away from you by serving at 140mph."

Verdasco piled in second serves at up to 130mph on Wednesday, causing problems for most of the five sets.

"I have had success against big severs but sometimes you can't control how well they serve. If you're not reading the serve it's tough," he said. "It's going to be a very, very tough match because he serves extremely well, so often when you play against guys with big serves the sets come down to just a few points and who plays the big points better. I need to be able to take my chances when they come."

His preparation and recovery are now routine. Murray came straight off court against Verdasco and on to an exercise bike for a warm-down. Then it is an ice bath and physio followed by munching sushi while chatting to reporters.

Of big matches, he said: "I think getting ready for them is easier than it was, but it doesn't mean the matches get any easier. Sometimes I've played the semis of slams and won comfortably, sometimes I've lost comfortably, sometimes it's been five-set tough matches like at the Australian Open this year or even the year before with Djokovic, you never know how the match is going to go. But in terms of preparing for them, having the experience of being there a lot of times will help."

Murray has now reached 13 grand slam semis but it is his second major title, and first Wimbledon championship, that is his focus in a fortnight of extraordinary tension for the young Scot. If he defeats Janowicz, he will play either Novak Djokovic or Juan Martin del Potro. He believes the Serb is the favourite to win the tournament.'

"He's the No.1 player in the world, he's won here before and he has obviously been on very good form since he's been here. He's had some tough matches against some very good grass-court players in the last couple of rounds in [Tommy] Haas and [Tomas] Berdych and he's won those matches fairly comfortably without too many problems. He's earned the right to be favourite with his results in the past."

However, Murray knows Del Potro beat Djokovic in the semi-finals of the Olympics last year and added: "I lost to Janowicz last time I played him. Anything can happen in the semis - and I'll be ready for it."

Nobody will be ready for the media firestorm this victory would unleash.