ANDY Murray will fight fire with fire when he takes on Roger Federer in today's Wimbledon semi-final.
The World No 3 has lost all three of his previous meetings with the Swiss since his back surgery in late 2013, including a humiliating 6-0, 6-1 defeat at the ATP World Tour finals last December, but the Scot has introduced new coach Jonas Bjorkman into his coaching group in an attempt to follow Federer's new aggressive style of play.
Speaking after a practice session at the All England Club yesterday which demonstrated his volleying and passing skills, the Swede said the Scot's game plan was likely to showcase this tactic. He feels the 28-year-old is feeling no ill effects from the recent injury to his shoulder arm and is relaxed and ready to try to book his place in a third Wimbledon final in the last four years.
"We're trying, Amelie and I, to get him to be more comfortable at the net and be more aggressive," said the Swede. "It will take some time because at big tournaments it's hard to do that straight away. But there's no doubt he has the potential to do it. Even against someone like Roger that is a good way to play. It puts off the guy who wants to come in - he wants to move forward but then all of a sudden he has to go back. Definitely, a way to beat someone who is very aggressive is to be very aggressive yourself."
Asked if his shoulder will be 100% fit for the match, which will be played second on Centre Court, the Swede replied: "I think so," the Swede said. "He was hitting the ball nicely and even against [Vasek] Pospisil, he looked great. If you go through Karlovic on grass with the form he had, that is a great test. You know it is going to be one or two points every set. I think that match was the perfect lead-in to upcoming matches where you need to step up even more."
There was no shortage of support for the Scot's cause. Tim Henman last night said he was playing better than when he took this title in 2013 and he was primed for a repeat. "It's a fantastic match for the tournament and you can make strong case for both of them," said the Englishman. "But Andy is playing the best I have seen him. He did it in 2013 and he can do it again now."
There is a theory that Novak Djokovic, who faces Richard Gasquet in the other semi-final, may be the ultimate beneficiary should Murray and Federer go the distance, but Mats Wilander, the former Grand Slam champion, takes an alternative view. "If Federer and Murray really get out there and test each other, they are both going to have to raise their games so high that suddenly the confidence level goes way up," he said. "The better the match is, the closer the match is, the better it is for both Murray and Federer. It's going to send a message to the other finalist."
At least one member of the Murray family is sure to be in a Wimbledon final this weekend. Eight years on from his win in the mixed doubles here with Jelena Jankovic, Andy's big brother Jamie was celebrating a return to the championship game in the men's doubles. He and his Australian partner John Peers won their semi-final 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 against Jonathan Erlich and Philipp Petzschner. Should both brothers reach the final it will be the first time since Laurie Doherty and Reggie Doherty in 1906 that two British brothers have achieved that feat. Not since Leslie and Kitty Godfree in 1926 has any British man claimed both the men's and mixed doubles titles at SW19.
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