On Centre Court, Andy Murray was taken to five sets by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga before coming through 7-6(10), 6-1, 3-6, 4-6, 6-1 to progress to the semifinals at Wimbledon. The Scot will face tenth seed Tomas Berdych.
Andy Murray wins marathon set
After holding his serve, Andy Murray was then put under some early pressure at 30-15, but his ever reliable serve got him out of any trouble as he held for 1-1. In the following game, Tsonga looked a little tight and gifted a break point chance to Murray at 30-40. However, the Frenchman saved the point and quickly held to edge back in front. The Brit then held to love and the set was all square at 2-2. The following game would see the 29-year-old with another chance of breaking the tenth seed. Murray then tightened up and Tsonga took advantage and saved the break point. The 2013 champion attacked the Frenchman and got his reward of another break point.
Tsonga went all out on serve and threw in a double-fault which then gave Murray the important break at 3-2. The world number two was forced to save three points en route to consolidating the break and going 4-2 up. Tsonga held serve and in the upcoming game, broke back with a one-handed pass return following a drop shot. The world number 12 then went in front at 5-4. The next three service games were easy holds of serve and the set needed the tiebreak to separate both players. It was Murray who took the breaker 12-10 having saved three set points and had three of his own saved.
Murray races away to a two-set lead
Andy Murray got off to a quick start in the second. He held his opening service game to love. In the following game at 30-15, Tsonga threw in a double-fault to give the number two seed a break point chance. Murray broke and the match had turned fully in the home player's favor. The Scot consolidated to go 3-0 up.
Murray continued to play at a high pace in the set and with Tsonga serving to get on the board, Murray denied him and piled the pressure on the 12th seed. Murray held and went 5-0 up. The two-time semifinalist eventually got on the board at 5-1 and avoided the bagel. Murray would go on to seal the set in fantastic fashion 6-1.
Lone break enough to give Tsonga the set
Tsonga came out with nothing to lose being two sets down. With the score at 2-1, Tsonga then fashioned a break point chance at 30-40. The Frenchman forced the error from the Scot of his backhand side and went 1-3 ahead. He consolidated and the match seemed to have taken a dramatic turn.
Murray was getting frustrated at the turn around in Tsonga's game. With the score at 5-3, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga reached set point at 15-40. The first was saved, but on the second point he forced the error from Murray and clinched the set 6-3.
Tsonga levels at two sets apiece
The Frenchman started the second set eager and focused. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga forced Murray to deuce before ripping a forehand winner down the line for a break point chance. Murray forced the error to erase the point, then went on to hold to get the fourth set underway. The world number 12 then eased his way to his opening service game for 1-1. Three games later with the score at 2-3, Murray hit a trademark lob to give him a chance of breaking. Tsonga saved the point, but it was Murray who broke to go 4-2 up. The following game would see the Frenchman break back.
Tsonga ran away to a love-40 lead before the Brit saved three points and took the game to deuce. The next point was won by Tsonga and he had a fourth break point. This time, however, would see him take advantage and break back for 3-4. The following game would test Tsonga's resolve and patience. Three times Murray would have a chance at breaking and every time the 31-year-old was up to the task and saved the points to go level at 4-4. The Frenchman broke again in the next game and was serving to level. Tsonga served it out for 4-6 and levelled at two sets all.
Murray finishes off Tsonga
With the match all square, Tsonga who had the momentum would look to take advantage. Murray started off the set by holding his serve to love after being brought to deuce on two occasions. The 29-year-old took control of the final set. On the Tsonga serve, Murray put away a forehand volley winner and broke to go 2-0 up. In the upcoming game, the Brit would have no such problems in holding serve and going 3-0 up. The world number two continued to look strong and determined and the momentum shifted firm the Brit's way.
Tsonga got broken again after he hit an unforced error from his forehand side and went down a break. The Scot held his serve to love with an ace and went within a game of the semifinals. Tsonga's first game of the set would come in the sixth game, serving it out to love. However, this would be his only game as Murray finished the Frenchman off to love once and for all.