Wimbledon 2011 Day 9: Murray v Lopez

They got the guys out really early, and after a thrilling 5-setter, a lot of people were out of the court so the atmosphere was a little muted to begin.





Everything started solidly enough with serves held all round until Lopez was serving at 2-3. He was defending break points and came unstuck with a failed drop shot. Andy went on to consolidate the break (much to people’s relief!).
Lopez had to defend break points again, and Andy wasted some chances to get the set here, leaving him to have to serve it out. First set Murray 6-3.






I was sat next to a lovely mother/son combo and it was her first time an Wimbledon, so for her to see Federer put out was amazing. She was really hoping this would be a thriller too, but perhaps the 5-setter previously had taken it out of Lopez.
He started the next set well, and in fact Andy wasted some good chances to break him in the third game.
The atmosphere can sometimes feel deflated in a second set, and it was eerily quiet. I had expected Lopez to be a lot more challenging, and that’s not to say we weren’t seeing some good rallies and variations of shots at all. But Andy was playing measured tennis, at times coming forward and being aggressive, and at times building up and constructing his shots. He also seemed a lot calmer in himself; not as much McMuttering to himself.
With that came a break of the Lopez serve.






Although Lopez was holding, Andy had more BP opportunities in the next few games and duly served out to take the second set comfortably.
At the first change of ends in the next set – Lopez had the trainer oit (who had made a brief appearance at the end of the previous set) – again he had presented Andy with chances, having been taken to deuce, but not able to push through.






In the next round, it was Andy taken to deuce and the first sign of some nerves. But not for long as he broke Lopez.
This third set saw a lot of games at deuce, on both service games, and we were wondering if this was the danger zone where Lopez is concerned, as he was actually beginning to look a bit more threatening but Andy stayed that crucial break ahead to take the match in straight sets, setting up a repeat Semi-Final with Rafa Nadal!












Next up – Women’s Semis!