Andy Murray outmuscles Fernando Verdasco to reach semis – Wimbledon Championships 2013
Local star, Andy Murray, made an epic comeback from a set down to triumph over the former world number seven, Fernando Verdasco, in a five-set nail-biter at the Wimbledon Championships 2013 on Wednesday. He notched up a 4-6, 3-6,
6-1, 6-4, 7-5 victory against the Spanish veteran at his home Grand Slam event.
The Olympic gold medallist, Murray, made a dismal entry at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. He lost his serve three times and gifted away the opening two sets. However, the Brit turned the tables on Verdasco after
that and subsequently stole the show. With this victory, Murray improved to a 9-1 lifetime in the FedEx ATP Head 2 Head series against the Spaniard.
The British number one, Murray, was quoted in a post match presser, "You're more concerned about losing the match, not thinking so much that, 'I'm going to lose at Wimbledon’. You're concerned how the match is going and that you
may lose. But when you've been in that position a lot of times, you know how to think through it and not get too far ahead of yourself. I definitely didn't rush when I went two sets to love down. I slowed myself down, if anything, and that was a good sign."
Both players played carefully for the first nine games. However, Verdasco got the breakthrough in the last game and clinched the opener with a 6-4 score line.
Currently ranked 54th in the Emirates Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Verdasco suffered the first blow in the third game and fell at 1-3. However, he went on a five-game killing spree and pocketed the set with a 6-3
win.
Murray changed his strategy in the third set and broke his rival’s opening serve. After Verdasco held his serve in the fourth game, the Brit stroke out the last three games and bagged the set with a breadstick.
The 26-year-old maintained consistency in his game in the remaining match. He required a single break of serve in the last two sets and sealed the deal with poise.
Next in queue for Murray is the 22nd seed, Jerzy Janowicz from Poland.
The Dunblane native reflected about his upcoming battle in an on-court interview, “He is one of the best young players on the tour. He is a great athlete and it will be a difficult match.”
The Polish top ranked star halted Lukasz Kubot in straight sets to set-up this epic battle. Murray is levelled with 1-1 in the head-to-head series against the Pole. Janowicz conquered the scot in their most recent meeting at the
BNP Paribas Masters in Paris.
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