Cilic steps up in doubles as Croatia stay alive against USA

Ivan Dodig and Marin Cilic dealt Bob and Mike Bryan a rare doubles defeat on Saturday to keep Croatia alive in their Davis Cup World Group quarter-final against the United States.

World number 12 Cilic stepped in at the last minute to partner Dodig, and the moved paid off with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 victory over the Bryan brothers — owners of 16 Grand Slam doubles titles.

With the win, Croatia closed the gap to 2-1 in the best-of-five match hardcourt tie in Portland, Oregon.

“It was a group decision,” Cilic said of his replacing Marin Draganja in the doubles. “Ivan is our first player in the team and he felt that I would work a little better with him against the Bryan brothers.

“As it happened, today I played probably the best match of my life in doubles.”

The Croatians were on the ropes after singles defeats for Cilic and Borna Coric on Friday.

Jack Sock, ranked 26th in the world, roared back after dropping the first two sets to stun former US Open champion Cilic 4-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4, and US number one John Isner then overpowered Coric 6-4, 6-4, 6-3.

Cilic will try to keep the tie alive when he takes on Isner in the first reverse singles match on Sunday. He has beaten the big-serving American in all five of their prior encounters.

“It’s bit different situation now, it’s 2-1 on Sunday. Whatever happened the last two days it’s behind us. It’s going to be definitely a tough match against John, especially on this kind of court. I’m hoping I am going to be 100 percent and I can pull out a great match,” Cilic said.

With 32 titles, the United States are the most successful Davis Cup nation ever. But they were ousted in the first round the past two years by Britain and last reached the semi-finals in 2012 — when they were beaten by Spain.

The winners of the best-of-five match tie will take on either the Czech Republic or France in the semi-finals. France held a 2-1 lead over the Czechs in Prague going into Sunday’s matches.

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France lead Czechs 2-1 after doubles struggle

The world’s top doubles pair of Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert put France 2-1 ahead of the Czech Republic in their Davis Cup World Group quarter-final on Saturday.

Wimbledon champions Mahut and Herbert, ranked first and second in the world, beat Radek Stepanek and Lukas Rosol 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in just over three hours.

Mahut and Herbert took only 25 minutes to cruise through the opening set on the hardcourt of the Werk Arena in the eastern Czech steel hub of Trinec.

The Czechs recovered in the second set, making fewer mistakes and taking a 3-0 lead which they converted into a 6-3 win.

The French pair regained their dominance again in set three, winning 6-3, but the Czechs, led by 37-year-old Stepanek, fought back in the fourth with two breaks to one.

Finally, Rosol lost his serve to love in the first game of the last set and that was all the French needed to take the set 6-4.

“We have been getting ready for this rubber for a week,” said Mahut.

“We left nothing to chance, we have been together all the time. We know each other by heart and that helps us.”

Stepanek said he was happy with the Czech pair’s performance, despite the loss.

“I think we played a fantastic game against the world’s best pair, we gave it everything,” said Stepanek.

“One set doesn’t mean anything in these long rubbers, we managed to come back and fought until the end.”

On Friday, the Czechs took the lead in the tie as world number 78 Rosol stunned 10th-ranked Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (10/8), 6-4.

Lucas Pouille, ranked 21st, then swept 50th-ranked Jiri Vesely 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, 7-5 to put France level in his Davis Cup debut.

In Sunday’s reverse singles, Vesely is due to face Tsonga before Rosol takes on Pouille.

The Czech Republic won the Davis Cup in 2012 and 2013, while France last lifted the trophy in 2001.

The winner of the tie will face either the United States or Croatia in the semi-finals.

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Czechs, France tied in Davis Cup

The Czech Republic and France were tied 1-1 after the opening rubbers of their Davis Cup World Group quarter-final on Friday as both number-two players beat the team leaders.

World number 78 Lukas Rosol first stunned 10th-ranked Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (10/8), 6-4 in three hours and 52 minutes.

Lucas Pouille, ranked 21st, then swept 50th-ranked Jiri Vesely 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, 7-5 in two hours and 24 minutes.

The tie started with a minute’s silence for the victims of Thursday’s terror attack in Nice that left at least 84 dead including ten children or youths.

On the hardcourt of the Werk Arena in the eastern Czech town of Trinec, the big-serving, 30-year-old Rosol got off to an impressive start against Tsonga, taking the first set on a single break.

But Tsonga, who is 31, regained his first serve in the second set and took a 2-1 lead with a break in each set.

Both held on to their serve in set four, with Rosol taking it in a thrilling tie-break after escaping from two match points.

Rosol and Tsonga traded breaks in the first two games of set five but the Czech then added another and converted his third match point.

“I have no words for what happened on the court today,” Rosol told Czech television.

“It’s a fantastic feeling to play as number two against a number one and win in five sets.”

Tsonga blamed his defeat on poor serving.

“I didn’t serve too well but I gave it what I could. Lukas played a great game,” he said.

“We got up and learnt what had happened (in Nice). It’s not easy to play when such things happen but at the same time it was important for us to go to the court and give our best.”

In the second rubber, Pouille had few problems with Vesely who piled up 34 unforced errors in the three sets.

“I didn’t play well, I’m sorry, I didn’t find my rhythm, my composure,” said Vesely.

“The rubber was all about mistakes that I can’t afford to make at this level.”

Pouille said his Davis Cup debut was tough as “Vesely is a really good player with confidence”.

“I tried to go there and play, impose my style, serve well, be there for each point,” he told AFP.

In Saturday’s doubles, veteran Radek Stepanek and Adam Pavlasek are due to face fresh Wimbledon champions Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert.

In Sunday’s reverse singles, Vesely will face Tsonga before Rosol takes on Pouille.

The Czech Republic won the Davis Cup in 2012 and 2013, while France last lifted the trophy in 2001.

The winner of the tie will face either the United States or Croatia in the semi-finals.

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Murray, king of grass

Andy Murray, number two on the world ranking, defeated the Canadian Milos Raonic on the final of Wimbledon by 6-4 7-6(3) 7-6(2). It is the second trophy for the Scott in the All England Club- only one away from Fred Perry- and his third Grand Slam in eleven finals disputed. Curiously, this final is the first that he played against a different player that isn´t Novak Djokovic- who has played against 7 times- or against Roger Federer, who has faced against on three occasions on a final of Grand Slam.

Murray dominated the game from beginning to end. He read to perfection Raonic service- only 8 aces in the whole game- and he showed that he is a strong player playing at the back of the court, showed with the 32% of points won on return. With his service he hardly conceded chances for the Canadian, he won the 77% of the points and only faced two break points, both of them on the fifth game of the third set, which he overcame with solvency. And although he only managed to materialize one of the seven break points that he disputed, on the tie-breaks he showed off his superiority, going ahead of Milos from the beginning and disabling any come-back of the Canadian. The 20-6 on tie-breaks that brought Raonic from the rest of the season wasn´t useful against Murray´s security- twelve unforced errors in the game- who played like a champion. Murray-Raonic stats

We already commented in our preview that Murray arrived to this game on a state of complete maturity and confidence and that the test could be too harsh for a debutant in a Grand Slam final and also because he had suffered a lot to win games during the tournament. The predictions were even a little bit short, looking at the superiority of the British in the game who only saw himself a little bit pressured on the third set.

With this, not only Murray confirms he is a great champion, but also he presents himself as an alternative to Djokovic, ranked one of the world ranking, on the coming months to lead the ATP ranking. On the ranking of the ATP Race, which measures the results of the current year, the British will add 2000 points, whereas the Serbian has only 90. This will leave the ATP ranking with 8040 points for Djokovic and 7225 for Murray. Only 815 points of difference which leave the dispute to become number one on the ATP ranking open, having in mind that there is still to play the US Open, four Masters 1000, and the ATP finals.

It is also the second time that Murray wins Queen´s and Wimbledon, the double with more tradition of world tennis, after achieving it also in 2013. In the Open Era only Rafael Nadal (2008), Lleyton Hewitt (2002), Pete Sampras (1995-1999), Boris Becker (1985), John McEnroe (1981-1984) and Jimmy Connors (1982) can presume of accompany the Scottish on a success full of prestige.

The statistics of Murray over grass are impressive. He has 102 victories, for only 17 defeats (this year 12-0) for a percentage of wins of 85,71% which ranks him fourth on the Era Open only behind of Federer, Borg and McEnroe and ahead of authentic kings of Wimbledon like Sampras, Laver, Becker, Connors and Djokovic. He is the record-man of Queen´s, with five victories on the centenary tournament. He is nearly invincible on a final over grass. From the nine finals disputed, he has won eight- including the Olympic gold medal of 2012- a 88,89% of effectivity, the best of the Open Era even above Borg, who won seven titles on eight finals. All of this playing only two games over grass on the whole year. Certainly Andy is one of the many who misses a Masters 1000 played on grass, him with much more reasons. Murray carreer match record Wins highest % on grass Open Era

Raonic, finalist of the tournament, had his first ever chance of winning a Grand Slam. The Canadian, on which is being the best season of his career, he overcame extreme difficulties against Goffin, who started 2-0, and Federer, who was 2-1 and playing magnificently until a silly auto-break on the twelfth game of the fourth set, after wasting a 40-0 with two double faults. Raonic, very firm and confident, used the advantage to become the first Canadian on reach a Grand Slam final, with the exception of Greg Rusedski, which was born on Canada but had British nationality, who played the US Open final of 1997, losing against Patrick Rafter.

Federer took advantage of an easy draw which let him regain confidence after so many problems suffered during the season. He won with more difficulties than expected to Guido Pella, ended the fairy-tales adventure of Marcus Willis, he defeated easily Daniel Evans and he broke the 8 winning strike of Johnson to reach his 48ª Quarter-Finals of a Grand Slam and his 14ª in Wimbledon, drawing the record with Jimmy Connors. Most QF Grand Slam all time

Afterwards he defeated, in an epic game, with two sets of disadvantage and three match points against Marin Cilic in his Quarter-Final game and he breaks lots of records: 40ª semi-finals of Grand Slam, 11ª semi-finals and 84 victories on Wimbledon, drawing again with Connors in both cases, 307 victories in Grand Slam overcoming the 306 of Martina Navratilova and 10ª victory overcoming a 0-2 against, matching the record of Boris Becker and Aaron Krickstein. Most SF Grand Slam all time Wimbledon Records Most wins Grand Slam all time Most 0-2 come backs

And when it looked like that the Swiss, playing again magnificently, could reach his eleventh final on Wimbledon- dominating completely the game against Raonic- that already mentioned game on the fourth set arrived and changed everything. A devastating minute that, due to the statements of Federer, not even him can explain what happen.

Djokovic arrived at Wimbledon ready to win his fifth consecutive Grand Slam and continue to aspire to the dream of the Golden Slam. He didn´t play any preparatory tournament over grass and the effort of winning Roland Garros, only Grand Slam he had left to win, caught up with him. The Serbian overcame the first two rounds but was defeated on the third round by Sam Querrey in four sets, on a game stopped by the rain. Djokovic couldn´t repeat the achievement of last year of coming back from a 0-2 against Kevin Anderson. If Djokovic accused the lack of challenges, he has one now to motivate himself as he has Murray chasing his leadership of the ranking and he is going to put all his effort and capacity to maintain it.

On the statistics of the tournament we can see the names of well-known players. Raonic, with 145, was the player that made mor aces. But if we look at the average of aces per game, it stands out John Isner who did 114 aces in three games, an average of 38 aces per game. Karlovic, Miller, Isner, Raonic and Cilic lead the ranking of best percentage of points won with his service. Murray was the best player in returns that got to the second week of the tournament, with a 42,25% of points won and 33 breaks, an average of nearly five per game. The Scottish was close to win one of every three games in return. Raonic was impressive as well with break points, saving 28 from 34, an 82,35% that clearly helped him with his success. Wimbledon 2016 stats

Wimbledon finishes leaving us a new king over grass, the Scottish Andy Murray who has left behind the shadow of Fred Perry to build his own legacy. The world number two looks like he has achieved a perfect point of maturity where he has added better mentality and positive and winning personality to his magnificent physical and technical abilities. Ivan Lendl, who acts like his coach, has to work with his player in order to have continuity with the results and show him he has the possibility of a new challenge: the world´s number one of the ATP ranking.

Gabriel García / thetennisbase.com

Masterful Murray roars to second Wimbledon title

by Dave JAMES

Britain’s Andy Murray clinched a second Wimbledon title and third Grand Slam crown Sunday when he downed misfiring Milos Raonic of Canada 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/2).

The 29-year-old world number two added the 2016 trophy to his 2013 triumph at the All England Club and his 2012 US Open breakthrough.

Appearing in his 11th final at the majors, but his first against an opponent other than Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, the Scot put on a Centre Court masterclass.

Murray buried his head in his towel and wept in the moments after victory.

“It’s the most important tournament for me every year. I’ve had some great moments and tough losses. I played some really good stuff today,” Murray said.

“The wins feel extra special because of the tough losses. I’m proud to have my hands on the trophy again.”

Murray faced just two break points in the two hour 48 minute encounter while 25-year-old Raonic, who had clobbered 137 aces going into the final, managed just eight on Sunday.

“It’s a difficult challenge. Andy has been playing great and he deserved to win, congratulations to him,” Raonic said.

“This one is going to sting. I’m going to make sure I do everything I can to be back here for another chance.”

Victory for Murray helped make up for the disappointment of losing the Australian and French Open finals to Djokovic this year.

It also illustrated the master-stroke he pulled off in tempting Ivan Lendl back into his coaching corner.

Raonic was attempting to become the first Canadian to win a Slam title but he was thwarted by Murray’s tough-as-teak defence and inspired return game.

In the final analysis, his 29 unforced errors compared to Murray’s miserly 12 proved fatal in a match where serve was broken just once.

Victory preserved the iron-grip on the majors of the sport’s ‘Big Four’ with Lleyton Hewitt the last man outside of Murray, Djokovic, Federer and Rafael Nadal to win Wimbledon back in 2002.

– Rush of blood –

Fittingly for such an occasion, the Centre Court Royal Box was packed with sporting and celebrity star power.

Prince William and wife Kate were joined by former champions Bjorn Borg, Boris Becker and Stefan Edberg as well as Hollywood actors Bradley Cooper, Benedict Cumberbatch and Hugh Grant.

Murray had won all four of the pair’s meetings in 2016, including the Australian Open semi-finals and in the final at Queen’s Club.

The second seed was unable to convert his first break point in the seventh game but deservedly edged ahead at 4-3.

In a rush of blood to the head, Raonic came to the net off a weak approach and Murray gleefully fired back the ball to induce the crucial error.

It was only the sixth time the 25-year-old Canadian, who had stunned Federer in a five-set semi-final, had dropped serve in the tournament.

Murray backed up the break for 5-3 before Raonic took the ninth game in which he fired his first ace of the final.

He had gone into the match having hit 137 aces in the previous six rounds.

A straightforward volley allowed Murray to claim the opener 6-4 with Raonic having hit just nine winners.

Raonic remained under siege, saving another break point in the first game of the second set, one more in the seventh and two more in the ninth as he clung on although his escape was aided by two Murray backhand errors.

Raonic unleashed a serve of 147mph in that game but his opponent still won the point — a dispiriting snapshot of his afternoon.

Murray remained in cruise control, breezing through the tie-break for a two sets lead.

He still hadn’t faced a break point in the final while Murray’s unforced error count was just six.

Raonic did carve out his first break points in the fifth game of the third set but Murray saved both.

Another tiebreak was required and again Murray dominated, stretching out to five match points.

Raonic saved one but Murray claimed victory was assured when the Canadian netted a return.

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Best is still to come, says Wimbledon champ Murray

by Steven GRIFFITHS

Andy Murray has warned world number one Novak Djokovic his best is yet to come as the Scot aims to follow his second Wimbledon crown with a sustained run of success.

Murray clinched his third Grand Slam title as he brushed aside Canada’s Milos Raonic with an imperious 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/2) victory in Sunday’s final.

The 29-year-old is the first Briton to secure multiple All England Club titles since Fred Perry in the 1930s and only the 12th man to win Wimbledon more than once.

Having suffered painful defeats in eight of his previous 10 Grand Slam finals, the world number two has set his sights on using Wimbledon as a springboard for even more success in the coming years.

“I still feel like my best tennis is ahead of me, that I have an opportunity to win more,” Murray said.

“The last three months have been some of the best I’ve played in my career in terms of consistency.

“Everyone’s time comes at different stages. Some come in their early 20s, some mid 20s. Hopefully mine is still to come.”

Murray has reached all three Grand Slam finals in 2016, losing the previous two in Australia and France to Djokovic.

But Djokovic showed rare signs of vulnerability in his shock Wimbledon third round loss against Sam Querrey and Murray believes he has an opportunity to establish himself as the sport’s preeminent force at a time when Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have struggled with injuries and inconsistent form.

“I obviously would have loved to have won more. Like I said earlier, the guys that I’ve been playing against are the best three players of all time potentially,” Murray said.

“I put myself in a position all of the time in these events to win them. I’ve learnt not to be afraid of failing.

“If I want to add to three slams, I’m going to have to find ways to win against them.”

– Proud –

As well as chasing down Djokovic, Murray’s says his main motivation to keep winning is to make his family proud following the birth of his daughter Sophia earlier this year.

“It changes your life. Obviously having a child, it gives you a different perspective. It also has given me a little bit of extra motivation to work hard, train hard, and do all of the right things to give myself a chance to win these events,” he said.

“A lot of people have said when Roger had kids, he started playing some of his best tennis. Novak, the same thing. I feel more motivated than ever just now.”

Since becoming the first British man to win Wimbledon for 77 years in 2013, Murray had been stuck in a rut in the majors, losing three finals and three semi-finals.

Coping with back surgery late in 2013 and then the end of his partnership with coach Ivan Lendl left Murray had a low ebb and he admitted it was a sweet moment to get back to the top at Wimbledon.

“I’m just really happy I managed to do it again after a lot of tough losses in the latter stages of the slams over the last couple of years,” Murray said.

“To do it twice here, an event where there is a lot of pressure on me to perform well, I’m very proud.

“From where I was kind of at the end of that year after I had the surgery, yeah, it’s been quite a long, long road back.”

Crucially, Lendl returned to Murray’s side last month and the Scot, who has won all 12 of his matches since then, paid tribute to the contribution of the man who also oversaw his previous major victories.

“I do think he’s a leader. I trust in what he says, mainly because of the results we had the last time we worked together. I’ve played my best tennis under him,” Murray said.

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Raonic salutes ‘phenomenal’ Murray, vows to hit back

by Dave JAMES

Milos Raonic hailed Andy Murray as “phenomenal” after losing the Wimbledon final Sunday but vowed to “leave no stone unturned” in order claim his first Grand Slam title.

World number two Murray clinched his second Wimbledon title and third Grand Slam crown when he downed Raonic 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/2).

The 25-year-old Raonic, who was bidding to become Canada’s first Grand Slam champion, admitted he still had a lot to work on.

“I’m going to work on everything. I’m not going to leave any stone unturned,” he said.

“I’m going to try to get myself back in this position, try to be better in this position.

“I’m going to try to get fitter, stronger. I’m going to try to improve my return game, improve my serve. Improve my efficiency coming forward.”

Murray’s win preserved the iron-grip of the sport’s ‘Big Four’ on the Wimbledon title.

The last man outside of Murray, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal to triumph at the All England Club was Lleyton Hewitt back in 2002.

Raonic had gone into his maiden final at the majors having fired 137 aces in the tournament.

However, on Sunday, Murray restricted him to just eight.

Even firing the fastest serve of the tournament of 147mph in the ninth game of the second set brought no reward.

It came back to him with interest and the Scot won the point.

“I think it’s phenomenal for him to back up his win from three years ago,” said Raonic after Murray added the 2016 title to his 2013 victory.

“He moves incredibly well. He returns well. Those are his two biggest strengths.

“I took care of my serve as much as I could. But every single time you play him, you know he’s going to get more returns back than anybody else, alongside with Novak.

“That’s what these two guys, especially, do. You try to find a way around that.”

– Overwhelmed –

Raonic only dropped serve once in the seventh game of the first set of the final, while Murray saved the only two break points he faced.

However, his 29 unforced errors were key when compared to the 12 of the rock-solid world number two.

And when the pressure was on in the second and third set tiebreaks, Murray simply overwhelmed the Canadian.

In both breakers, Murray took a stranglehold — racing to 5/1 in the first and then 6/1 in the second.

“I think I did the best I could. I tried coming forward, putting pressure on him. He was playing much better than me off the baseline,” admitted Raonic, who had knocked out Federer in five sets in the semi-finals.

“Probably a little too passive to start the match on his service games. But then I tried to turn that around, give myself two looks, but didn’t make the most of it.

“I tried to put together what I could, fought. It just didn’t work out.”

Raonic said he was keen to extend his coaching arrangement with John McEnroe after their three-week grass court stint.

The partnership had raised eyebrows as McEnroe had long-standing commitments with his televison work seeing him commentating courtside while Raonic was facing Murray.

“I think we’ll probably try to find an extent that it can work, he can help me, and try to make the most of it,” he said.

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Raonic stuns Federer in five sets to make Wimbledon final

by Dave JAMES

Milos Raonic became the first Canadian man to reach a Grand Slam final at Wimbledon on Friday when he stunned punch drunk seven-time champion Roger Federer in a titanic five-set struggle.

Sixth seed Raonic triumphed 6-3, 6-7 (3/7), 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 and goes on to face second seed Andy Murray, the 2013 champion, or 10th-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych.

“I pushed him on a few service games, couldn’t get it done,” said Federer.

“He hit the lines with the serve and forehand. He did a great job. It’s something I want to forget about.”

“It hurts. I was so, so close.”

It was 25-year-old Raonic’s first win on grass against a top 10 opponent and shattered Federer’s hopes of going on to claim a record eighth All England Club crown and 18th major.

“There was a little opening and I took it,” said Raonic who looked down and out in the fourth set.

“It’s a big impact for Canada. Hopefully, it will be even bigger if I win on Sunday.

“I was struggling throughout the third and fourth sets, he was playing some real good tennis. It’s a great feeling to be continuing.”

After weathering an early storm, Federer had been in complete control of the semi-final, his 10th at the tournament, until the tie turned suddenly and dramatically in the fourth set.

The 34-year-old, bidding to become the oldest finalist in 42 years, squandered three break points in the set and slipped from 40-0 up on serve in the 12th game.

Federer, whose last Grand Slam crown came at Wimbledon in 2012, had already required five sets to get past Marin Cilic in the quarter-finals, saving three match points in the process.

And the effort took its toll on the 17-time major winner in the decider where he needed treatment on his right thigh and jarred his left knee and foot in a worrying fall.

“I hope I haven’t hurt myself,” said the Swiss.

Raonic, nine years his junior, pounced for a 3-1 lead while Federer had to save two more break points in the sixth game.

The Canadian held his nerve and claimed victory when Federer went wide with a weary forehand which condemned the Swiss star to his first loss in a Wimbledon semi-final.

Raonic finished with 23 aces and 75 winners while Federer converted just one of nine break points.

– Pounced –

Raonic, playing in his second Wimbledon semi-final after losing to Federer at the same stage two years ago, came out blasting from the start.

He carved out and converted the only break point of the first set for a 3-1 lead before unleashing the fastest serve of the tournament of 144mph (231.7km/h) in the fifth game.

Federer squandered four set points in the 10th game of the second set, the last of which off a sloppy backhand.

But the veteran wasn’t to be denied when Raonic left the door open again in the tiebreaker with his sixth double fault of the tie.

The Swiss soon went to another three set points and this time he pounced, levelling the match when a Raonic backhand stab drifted wide.

Federer broke for the first time in the semi-final for a 4-3 lead in the third set as Raonic suffered a sudden loss of momentum, backing it up with a service game to love.

His seventh ace of the contest sealed the set in the 10th game.

With his coach John McEnroe commentating for British television, Raonic had to save two break points in the fifth game and another in the ninth of the fourth set.

However, in a remarkable 12th game, Federer was pegged back from 40-0 after serving up back-to-back double faults and Raonic levelled the semi-final on a third set point when the Swiss meekly teed-up an opportunity for the Canadian to pass him.

Federer then required treatment on his right thigh in the changeover.

The fatigued legend saved a break point at 1-2 in the decider but only after jarring his left foot and knee in an awkward fall.

A breathtaking close-up rally at the net went in the Canadian’s favour and he broke for 3-1 in what proved to be the crucial breakthrough.

dj/smg

Murray to face Raonic in Wimbledon final after Berdych rout

by Steven GRIFFITHS

Andy Murray stormed into his third Wimbledon final as the Scot crushed Tomas Berdych 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 on Friday to set up a title showdown with Milos Raonic.

Murray gave a majestic performance on Centre Court and needed just under two hours to ensure his return to the All England Club final three years after becoming the first British man to win Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936.

The 29-year-old made just nine unforced errors, in contrast to 30 by the befuddled Berdych, who was powerless to halt Murray’s progress to an 11th Grand Slam final appearance — a milestone which took him ahead of Perry as the British man with the most major finals on his CV.

“I’m very happy. To make the Wimbledon final is a good achievement. I’ve got one more to go on Sunday,” Murray said.

“The older you get you never know how many chances you will get to play in a Grand Slam final.

“It helps to have experience to deal with the nerves. You learn from those matches in the past against some of the best players of all time.”

With Canadian sixth seed Raonic in his first major final after a shock win over Roger Federer, world number two Murray will be strongly favoured to clinch his second Wimbledon crown and third Grand Slam title in Sunday’s final.

But Murray said: “Milos is playing some of the best grass-court tennis of his career. I’m aware I’ll have to play very well to win.”

Murray will hope it is third time lucky this year after losing the Australian and French Open title matches to Novak Djokovic.

Having faced Djokovic in seven major finals and Federer, who beat the Scot in his first Wimbledon final in 2012, in the other three, Murray finally gets to meet an opponent from outside the traditional superpowers.

Murray holds a 6-3 lead in his head to head with Raonic and defeated the Canadian on grass three weeks ago in the Queen’s Club final.

It is the first time the two Queen’s finalists have gone on to meet in the Wimbledon title match since Stefan Edberg and Boris Becker in 1988.

– Nonchalant –

In his seventh Wimbledon semi-final and 20th in all Grand Slams, Murray emerged to a barely half-full Centre Court as the crowd refuelled following Raonic’s dramatic five-set win over Federer.

Murray didn’t let the lack of atmosphere distract him and he landed the first blow in the second game after an ill-timed Berdych double fault on break point.

After that blunder, Berdych almost fell over the net in his eagerness to bury the smash that gave him a break back in the next game.

But Murray was unfazed by the Czech’s aggression and broke again in the eighth game as Berdych, who committed 13 unforced errors in the first set to just one by Murray, paid the price for trying and failing to bludgeon the Scot into submission.

Berdych looked rattled, blazing one overhead so wide it barely bounced before ending in the stands.

When he drilled a forehand straight at the defenceless Murray, it was easy to wonder if there was any lingering bad blood from their stormy clash at the Australian Open 18 months ago when Murray’s wife Kim launched a profanity-laden tirade at the Czech.

Yet Murray had the upper hand to such an extent that even his usually taciturn coach Ivan Lendl was moved to applaud when the Scot cleverly manoeuvered the 10th seed into yet another vulnerable position to break in the seventh game of the second set.

Murray’s previous Wimbledon semi-final triumphs over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Jerzy Janowicz had been frenetic affairs.

But, unfurling sublime lobs and drop shots with nonchalant ease, this was a stroll in the early evening sunshine for Murray, who broke early in the third set and finished the job with the air of a man on a mission.

smg/dj

Raonic powers into Wimbledon semi-finals

by Steven GRIFFITHS

Milos Raonic advanced to his second Wimbledon semi-final as the big-serving Canadian ended Sam Querrey’s surprise run to the last eight with a 6-4, 7-5, 5-7, 6-4 victory on Wednesday.

Raonic is the first Canadian to make the last four at the All England Club more than once and the sixth seed plays seven-time champion Roger Federer on Friday for a place in the final.

He trails Federer 9-2 in head-to-heads.

The 25-year-old will hope it is third time lucky after losing his previous two Grand Slam semi-finals at Wimbledon in 2014 and in the Australian Open earlier this year.

Now coached by former Wimbledon champion John McEnroe, Raonic blitzed Querrey who had knocked out Novak Djokovic in the third round.

He hit 58 winners and served 13 aces and finally looks capable of fulfilling the potential that saw his ear-marked as a future star several years ago.

“There were some momentum shifts there. I’m glad I was able to get back on the right path after he won the third,” Raonic said after tying Eugenie Bouchard’s Canadian record of reaching three Slam semis.

“I was able to get things back on my terms. It’s a well deserved chance to be in the semi-finals.

“It’s exciting, but also humbling because you have to get the win. I hope to do better than last time.”

Querrey’s exit was a low-key conclusion to a memorable campaign for the American 28th seed, who caused one of the great Wimbledon upsets when he knocked out defending champion Djokovic.

But playing his first Grand Slam quarter-final at the 38th attempt, Querrey was unable to reproduce the bold play that shattered Djokovic’s bid for a calendar Grand Slam.

“Kudos to Milos for playing a very clean match. He didn’t miss a volley. I was always playing catch up and in the end he got me,” Querrey said.

Raonic possesses a best-ever serve of 143mph which is especially potent on grass and carried him to the Wimbledon semi-finals two years ago and the Queen’s Club final last month.

Querrey has a ferocious serve of his own and, having hammered their way into the quarter-finals with a combined 198 aces, it was no surprise to see few prolonged rallies in a Court One slug-fest.

Brute force was the name of the game and, heeding McEnroe’s call to be even more aggressive in his mindset, it was Raonic who seized the initiative with a solitary break to take the first set.

Given the dominance of his serve, Raonic needed only one chance to break and win the second set as well.

Querrey kept plugging away and finally got his reward in the 11th game of third set when he converted his first break point of the match with a cool backhand volley.

But Raonic wouldn’t be denied and he sealed a deserved victory with a clinical break in the fourth set.

smg/dj