A couple of rain delays broke up a sweet afternoon for Andy Murray. By the time the clouds had blown and the Centre Court roof was closed, it took the world number three a little less time to negotiate his way to a semifinal meeting with Roger Federer than for the watching Paula Radcliffe to run a marathon.
Murray's two hours 13 minutes win over Vasek Pospisil gives him a sixth Wimbledon semifinal in seven years.
Murray, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic came through in straight sets with just Richard Gasquet advancing after a minor three hour, 28 minute epic.
In what turned out to be the match of the day, the mercurial 29-year-old won the "battle of the backhands' by beating French Open winner Stan Wawrinka 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 11-9.
In doing so, he reaches the semi-finals of Wimbledon for the second time, and eight years after he last reached this stage. His semi-final opponent will be Djokovic.
Prince William and his wife Kate were part of a smiling contingent seated in the Royal Box cheering on local favourite Murray. Prince Albert of Monaco was there too alongside six-time Wimbledon singles champion Billie Jean King.
Royalty of another kind, former England captain David Beckham and his son, Romeo, sat among the fans.
Plain sailing
In this round, Murray had no need to rage at imaginary tormentors. The only break point on the Scot’s serve came at the end, 5-4 up and serving for the match after he converted the solitary break point on offer in each of the first two sets for a match-winning lead.
Pospisil was an unlikely party spoiler. He had played for more than 11.5 hours to Murray’s eight hours 50 minutes and came into the quarter-final ranked 56 in the world. Fatigue was likely to be an issue.
“Maybe my energy is a little bit low,” said the Canadian afterwards. “Obviously it’s the first time in the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam. I was also kind of going out there feeling it out a little bit.”
Murray’s straight set 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 win gave him his 17th Grand Slam semi-final, more than any other British player and equal to Bjorn Borg. But that will mean little if he fails to meet the altogether more formidable threat of Federer.
2012 recalled
Before the two were off the court, thoughts had already turned to 2012 when they shared the biggest spoils of that year, Federer taking the Wimbledon title and Murray the Olympic gold medal.
“Yeah, the finals, there was a lot on the line with Andy,” said Federer. “I think he was going for his first Wimbledon in ‘12. He had lost some majors before that. It was tricky because there was rain, then the roof closed, I think midway through the second.
“The Olympics was a different vibe altogether. It was tougher to make the finals because it was best-of-three. Once there, with the epic I had against del Potro, I was just a bit weathered, but very relieved that I was going to make a medal for Switzerland.”
Like Pospisil it was difficult to cast Frenchman Gilles Simon as a player who could cause serious provocation to Federer, who hit 116 service games without his serve breaking until Simon nicked one in the 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 win.
Game time
Just one of Federer’s matches has gone beyond two hours, his total time on court before Simon a paltry six hours 16 minutes the shortest of any player in the quarterfinals. For the 33-year-old that is significant as he faces Murray, who he has beaten in 12 matches and lost to 11 times.
“I hope I get good support on Friday,” said Murray. “It’s been the case throughout the whole event and every year that I played here. Roger’s obviously extremely popular everywhere he goes.
“So, yeah, it might not be as partisan a crowd or atmosphere as some matches that I play here. But it will still be an excellent atmosphere.”
“My shoulder’s felt better the last two, three days really,” added Murray of the nagging but non-serious injury. “Been hitting a bunch of serves in practice still. Would like to get a little bit more pace behind the first serve. But, yeah, hopefully that comes in the next couple of days.
“ You know, I didn’t feel like the breaks affected me too much. Actually played pretty well under the roof for a change, which is nice.”
The world number one Novak Djokovic had Boris Becker animated and on his feet as the 2014 US Open winner, Marin Cilic, was packed away with disarming ease. Swinging freely, Djokovic, who had his problems in the last carry-over match against the big serving South African Kevin Anderson, won 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.
The top seed faces Gasquet, who is a surprise semi-finalist and the only player to have come through a five-set quarter-final match. The marathon against Wawrinka could prove costly against Djokovic.
