By Chris Oddo | Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Andy Murray eased past Vasek Pospisil to set up a popcorn semifinal with Roger Federer at Wimbledon.
Photo Source: Ian Walton/Getty
Andy Murray pushed through to his sixth career Wimbledon semifinal with a 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 victory over Canada’s Vasek Pospisil on Wednesday at the All England Club, setting up a hot-ticket semifinal with Roger Federer on Friday.
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Two lengthy rain delays didn’t stop Murray’s momentum, nor did the closing of the Centre Court roof, which occurred (unnecessarily because the sun was out for the rest of the day) at 3-4 in the second set.
“It was obviously difficult,” said Murray. “We stopped a couple of times and then coming out under the roof is different conditions again. I was pleased considering that.”
Murray covered all the bases in his comprehensive victory over the Canadian. It’s a theme that has been constant since their first meeting in Vienna last season, as Murray has now won all nine sets he’s played over Pospisil.
On Wednesday he dropped only nine first-serve points, converted 21 of 23 net forays, and broke serve three times on eight opportunities to keep a slim yet steady edge over the rising Canadian.
Pospisil, who had a chance to become the fifth player in history to win four five-set matches at the same Grand Slam event, stayed close to Murray throughout the affair, but after he was dealt a time violation warning at 5-5, 30-all in the second set, Murray notched the next two points, clinching the break with a gorgeous dipping backhand pass that a falling Pospisil could not handle.
“I tried to change my return position a little bit at the end of the second set,” Murray said. “Just to maybe make him think a little bit but also for myself, to try and see the returns a bit better. That worked.”
Murray served out the second set in the next game.
Pospisil would get nabbed for another time violation at 4-4, 30-0 in the third set, and he ended up dropping that game as well to give Murray a chance to serve for the match. Though Murray would end up facing his only break point of the afternoon in that game, he was up to the task. He hammered a service winner out wide and proceeded to clinch the victory, his 150th at the Grand Slam level, in two hours and 12 minutes.
Murray will next set about the business of preparing for a red-hot Federer in the semifinals. The pair have played some memorable contests at Wimbledon, with Federer taking his 17th Grand Slam title from Murray in the final at Wimbledon in 2012 before being drubbed by the Scot in the Olympic Gold Medal match a few weeks later.
Federer holds the lifetime edge over Murray, 12-11, which includes victories in their last three battles.